Population Biology and Adult Behavior of the Circumpolar Butterfly, Parnassius phoebus F. (Papilionidae)

Males patrol all day in search of females about the meadows where the larval host (Sedum lanceolatum) is abundant. Females fly seldom. Virgin females are located usually by patrolling males flying near and either detecting a female pheromone, or by observing the female and dropping onto her, or occasionally while both sexes are in flight. Mating occurs by the male crawling over the quiescent female until the correct position is achieved. This capture mating behavior probably evolved because the venter-toventer position is necessary to deposit the sphragis, a bulky external structure which prevents the female from mating again and which may plug the female pheromone glands. Males move rather randomly within the colony, and occasionally disperse many kilometers. Females disperse farther than males. Males live an average of 6 days. Females oviposit randomly; the colony may be maintained by attraction to yellow flowers by adults. When eggs hatch in spring, first instar larvae must wander to locate S. lanceolatum. The resulting larval mortality may cause Parnassius to occur in colonies in areas with high S. lanceolatum density.