Tuesday, August 3, 2010

butterfly puddling! gotta see this one!


many butterfly species engage in "puddling"  Usually it is the male. I was watching these two and wasn't quite sure what I was seeing when I saw clear fluid squirting out from the end of the abdomen of the butterfly on the right.  It took some researching online before I found any reference to this specific phenomena.
As the butterfly drinks up nutrients (amino acids, salts, and whatever other minerals they need) they dispel the water almost as quickly. They say they retain enough of the minerals they need.  This is said to help enhance their sperm and they also pass on the extra nutrients to the female to make superior eggs, and it also flushes out their gastrointestinal tract.

Mother nature is a wonder!

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