The Variety Collection

My images in this gallery are used in other galleries or for elements of the website, but please do feel free to browse/shop it if you are curious. You will find a large potpourri of my photography in this collection with image subjects ranging from urban to wilderness.

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Swallowtail Mineral Lick Puddle Club

Many butterflies like to siphon mineral salts from exposed soils and evaporating mud puddles. These butterfly "puddle clubs" form in places such as along dirt roads and paths where water regularly accumulates after rain and evaporates, concentrating the nutrients. Butterflies will even continue to visit these sites after the puddles have dried up. They exude saliva through their proboscis (tongue) and then suck up the nutrients.

Butterfly Swallowtail Nature Closeup Insect Bfly Mineral Lick Puddle Club Biology Animal Wildlife Yellow Nikon 1755 Nikon D300 Entomology 2 2010 Michael Menefee