Her Imperial Highness selected this rather pathetic leaf stub for her offspring. This was despite the presence of plenty of lush, whole leaves to choose from in the immediate vicinity. In fact she must have struggled past some good leaves to reach this egg laying site. This behaviour reminds me a little of camilla's preference for laying on the worst looking Honeysuckle in the thicket.
There is far less risk of such a leaf being grazed, so it strikes me as sensible behaviour.
ReplyDeleteThe females do lay fairly randomly - but largely within suitable foliage. M
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