Copula of Long-tailed Blue in Central-Sulawesi highland

Description:

Phylum: ArthropodaSubphylum: HexapodaClass: Insecta LINNAEUS, 1758 (insects, Insekten)Subclass: Pterygota LANG, 1888Order: Lepidoptera LINNAEUS, 1758 (butterflies & moths, Schmetterlinge)Subordeer: Glossata(unranked): RhopaloceraSuperfamily: PapilionoideaFamily: Lycaenidae LEACH, 1815 (gossamer-winged butterflies, Blulinge)Subfamily: Lycaeninae LEACH, 1815 (asian sapphires)Tribus: Polyommatini SWAINSON, 1827 (weak blues)Genus: Lampides HBNER, 1819Lampides boeticus LINNAEUS, 1767 (Long-tailed Blue, Groer Wanderbluling)Adults show "false-head-mimicry" as their hind-wings possess antenna-like tails:complete with black and white annulated appearance. They also have a spot at the base of the tail and turn around upon landing to confuse potential predators from recognizing the true head orientation. This causes predators to approach from the true head end resulting in early visual detection [1].Indonesia, Central-Sulawesi: Bada Valley, ca. 1000m asl., 13.5.2010(IMG_9914)_______________________________________________[1] Robbins, Robert K. 1981 The "False Head" Hypothesis: Predation and Wing Pattern Variation of Lycaenid Butterflies. American Naturalist, 118(5):770-775