Monday, October 14, 2013

scent spots



Monarch butterflies are still passing through the valley. 

Here's the way to tell the males from the females: look at the hind wings. And here's another interesting nature word: androconium, pronounced [an-druh-KOH-nee-uhm]. They are scent scales on male butterflies. The dark spots 
(plural-androconia) on the top photo are the male's scent glands. The bottom photo is a female. Her hind wings have thicker veins but lack the dark spots of the androconium. 

Now you know.

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