How does a butterfly tell a male from a female?

Five methods to identify male and female butterflies

1, different shapes

For example, the butterfly jade (the male butterfly has a black background and white stripes, and the female butterfly sometimes imitates the white birch butterfly).

Male Papilio jade belt as shown in the figure:

Female Papilio jade belt as shown in figure:

2. Observe their sexual markers.

For example, the male butterfly of Papilio pallidus has a small round wing, while the female butterfly does not; The male butterfly of Betula platyphylla has four black spots, only three points more than the female butterfly. When the male butterfly is frightened, it will turn like a yellow brush on its tail to scare its natural enemies, while the female butterfly will not.

Step 3 observe butterfly mating

In the mating position, when the male butterfly is afraid of flying, its wings are outside or dragging the other's body. Female butterflies usually hide in it shyly when mating, and don't flap their wings easily when they escape, because once they flap their wings, mating will be interrupted. Butterflies are very loving insects, and they won't break up easily until they finish mating!

4. Capture and observe the butterfly's tail mating device.

If it is a small round hole, it is a female butterfly, and that is its spawning tube; The male butterfly has a pair of linear tail clamps, which can tightly clamp the oviposition tube of the female butterfly.

5. Look who is laying eggs.

Of course, the female butterfly lays eggs. Usually, male butterflies are more likely to die after mating, but if there is no accident, female butterflies can live much longer than male butterflies until their wings break, scales fall off and lead is washed away. So most of the old butterflies seen in the wild are females.