animal life cycles [butterfly] [notes]

How do butterflies mate? Male butterflies find females by sight, and use chemicals called pheromones at close range. If the female accepts the male, they couple end to end and may go on a short courtship flight. The sperm then fertilize each egg as it passes down the female's egg-laying tube. The adult male butterfly dies six to eight weeks after all of the sperm has been depleted from their body. Male butterflies are ready to mate one hour after emerging from the pupa. They frequently will mate with a female butterfly as soon as she begins emerging from her pupa, even helping her to remove herself from it.