Lek-mating
Guides
Callophrys hesseli
Hessel's Hairstreak
Hessel's Hairstreak is a small lycaenid butterfly endemic to Atlantic coastal wetlands of the eastern United States. The species exhibits complete ecological dependence on Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), which serves as the exclusive larval host plant and provides adult camouflage habitat. Populations are patchily distributed and declining due to habitat loss, with state-level endangered status in Connecticut and G3 vulnerable ranking globally.
Empidinae
dance flies
Empidinae, commonly called dance flies, are a subfamily of predatory empidoid flies. Males of many species form mating swarms near visual markers, often presenting captured prey to females as nuptial gifts during courtship. The subfamily exhibits diverse mating systems, including lek polygyny and sex-role reversal where females swarm and males choose mates. Many species are effective pollinators of flowering plants, particularly in alpine and subalpine ecosystems where they can achieve pollination effectiveness comparable to honeybees.
Gasterophilus intestinalis
Horse Bot Fly, Horse Botfly
A parasitic bot fly found worldwide that infests the gastrointestinal tract of equids. Adults are bumblebee mimics active in summer, lacking functional mouthparts and living only a few weeks. Females cement eggs to horse hairs; larvae develop in the mouth and stomach for 8–10 months before exiting in feces to pupate. Infestations rarely cause clinical disease but adults are a nuisance to horses.
Papilio polyxenes
Black Swallowtail, Eastern Black Swallowtail, American Swallowtail, Parsnip Swallowtail, Parsleyworm (caterpillar)
Papilio polyxenes, the black swallowtail, is a medium-sized butterfly native to North America. Adults are recognized by black wings with yellow spots and blue scaling, with females exhibiting more extensive blue areas and effective Batesian mimicry of the toxic pipevine swallowtail. The species employs a lek mating system where males defend hilltop territories and engage in aggressive aerial combat. Caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae) and possess a distinctive orange forked gland (osmeterium) that everts to release foul-smelling compounds when threatened.