Actually, this is the typical "I'm not interested" defensive position, with wings flexed ventrally (greater than 180 degree separation on the dorsal or upper suface) and abdomen raised above the plane of the thorax. For a male butterfly (or moth) to copulate with a female, he usually must align himself roughly parallel to her, side by side, and curve his abdomen sideways to meet hers. In the above position, 1. a male can't land close enough to the female because her wings are in the way, and 2. he can't access her abdomen because it is in the air. Butterflies do fly during copulation, and often initiate courtship in the air, but they are generally on firm footing when they get together.