Ever so often, we encounter many species of butterflies which puddle (stopping at damp patches on roads, dirt paths, etc., to drink from a variety of sources). However, not all species puddle though, and in quite a number of the families like Papilionidae and Pieridae in particular, only the males puddle. The physiological reasons for puddling have been discussed here and gives some explanations why only the males puddle.
We'd like to keep this thread open for everyone to post their encounters of puddling butterflies so that we can have a list of all the puddlers as a reference. So upload your puddling photos here and we will update the checklist as we go along!
Remember, to define "puddle" the butterfly must be feeding on some damp surface on the ground, or some dropping, excreta or other 'salt-bearing' substance. This is different from those butterflies which are feeding on the fermented juices of rotting fruit, sap of trees and so on. So please distinguish between the two.
List of Puddling Butterfly Species - Observed and/or Photographed.
Posted this pic last week in the sighting forum.
Two butts, Tapena thwaitesi bornea and Common Hedge Blue, in one pic feeding on the bird dropping on the wet ground.
2 Great Helens! Surprised they weren't on the list in the first place.
They look more like red helens. Nice shot. Red helens r known to puddle. Mr Khew says that great helens haf not been observed to puddle in singapore. Does anyone know why da bottom helen has those white spots at the edge of the hindwings?
The Puddlers
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Originally Posted by abielneo
