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.

ButterflySwallowtailNatureCloseupInsectBflyMineralLickPuddle ClubBiologyAnimalWildlifeYellowNikon 1755NikonD300Entomology22010Michael Menefee

From The Variety Collection