ENVIRONMENTAL-INFLUENCES ON MATE LOCATION IN MALE CHEQUERED SKIPPER BUTTERFLIES, CARTEROCEPHALUS PALAEMON (LEPIDOPTERA, HESPERIIDAE)

The behaviour of male chequered skipper butterflies was studied to determine the factors affecting mate location. Males were territorial within small areas where they aggregated. They used favoured perches, intercepted most passing objects and distinguished between heterospecifics and conspecifics. They increased their territorial efficiency by making many, short flights from perches instead of few, long flights. The areas selected do not represent any resource to females or larvae and it is suggested that they are chosen primarily on the basis of their favourable temperature relations. These have beneficial effects on flight activity and perch height which in turn improve male vision and mating chances. © 1994 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.