Orange Tip behaviour

[PhilBJohnson]

The male has bright orange wing tips. The eggs are bright orange. When the male approaches, the female often raises her abdomen. Can the male tell by looking at the females abdomen if she is receptive or not or is it just a sign that she is not receptive?
I know this picture is a bit "washed out" but it gives a view of what the male sees when approaching the female?
Is colour important for the male in this instance? (I don't think they mated).

[Padfield]

I think the raised abdomen is the female's way of saying 'no'. This is certainly the accepted view, though accepted views are sometimes wrong! In my experience, the evidence supports orthodoxy - I have never seen a successful mating after a female has given this sign.



Guy

[PhilBJohnson]

Thanks Guy, that is very helpful.
I didn't really want to post a proposed explanation for this behaviour without knowing a bit more,
Best wishes,
Philip

[David M]

Pierids seem to be the main users of this raised abdomen approach....I've seen it in Meadow Browns too but never any other species.

I wonder why this is?