If you see butterflies on moist sand or mud and they appear to be nibbling, this is called “puddling.” They do this to obtain minerals from the soil.
What you will need:
- Terracotta pot and saucer
- Play Sand
- Compost
- Decorative rocks and beach glass ( I used some small round rocks out of my garden)
You can provide a puddling spot by placing a saucer or shallow pan in your garden and filling it with coarse moist sand. (Sand keeps water from evaporating).
Mud Puddles Contain Salt and Minerals
Butterflies get most of their nutrition from flower nectar. Though rich in sugar, nectar lacks some important nutrients the Butterflies need for reproduction. For those, butterflies visit puddles.
By sipping moisture from Mud Puddles, butterflies take in salts and Minerals from the soil. This behavior is called puddling, and is mostly seen in male butterflies. That’s because males incorporate those extra salts and minerals into their sperm.
When butterflies mate, the nutrients are transferred to the female through the spermatophore. These extra salts and minerals improve the viability of the female’s eggs, increasing the couple’s chances of passing on their genes to another generation.
Mud puddling by butterflies catches our attention because they often form large aggregations, with dozens of brilliantly colored butterflies gathered in one location. Puddling aggregations occur frequently among swallowtails and pierids.
Creating a Butterfly Garden
- Choose the right location. …
- Select flowers that attract butterflies. …
- Use organic, homemade bait. …
- Add a water source. …
- Build butterfly shelters. …
- Stay clear of toxic pesticides. .
The migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus) has entered the IUCN Red List as Endangered.
What is happening in our global landscapes to cause such alarming losses? Butterflies face a wide range of threats including habitat loss, climate change, disease, pesticides, and invasive plants. More localized threats, such as over grazing and roadside mowing, can also have negative consequences.
