This afternoon I watched a gulf fritillary butterfly lay eggs, completely missing the host plant maypop passion vine, and instead leaving its deposit on the mulch nearby.

Did you know that the butterfly’s abdomen, the hind part of its body, has ten segments? The first seven segments have an external respiratory opening, allowing it to breathe on both sides, while nine and 10 are for mating, egg laying and excretion.

The male has “claspers” on the ninth segment, which will grab the tip of the female’s abdomen while mating. Interesting fact: females have two reproductive openings, one for mating, while the other is for laying eggs.