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By this picture, José took a mating couple of the Silver-studded Blue. The female in the background is mating with male in the foreground. The couple was just about to find the optimum position, when another male made use of these seconds of insecurity and also landed on the (Rhinanthus serotinus) flower. He tries to displace the mating male by flapping his wings. The mating male in return flaps his wings, but cannot do so to the same extent as can his competitor, since he might repel his mate. Instead, he is holding his wings apart to defend himself and his bride against the invader. |
