There are, however, additional elements some butterflies need to augment their survival. Butterflies will seek these needs until they find them, whether in your garden, your neighbor's, or in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, their natural habitats are dwindling, either from adverse environmental changes or from the need for man to develop still more homes, factories, and roads. However, zealous butterfly gardeners can provide or help restore some of these important elements.
About puddles for butterflies
Remember how much you enjoyed playing in puddles when you were a youngster? I surely do! I went out of my way to walk right through a puddle, rather than skirt around it. Even knowing I'd get into a peck of trouble from my dad or mom for getting my only pair of shoes soaking wet didn't stop me.
Unlike children, butterflies don't need puddles simply for play. Neither do they need them for cooling off--they prefer shady places for that.
Why then do they need water from puddles in addition to nectar? Do they just get thirsty from imbibing all that sweet nectar? Read on, my friend, for more on butterfly puddles.
In researching this question, I found several answers. Referring to one of my previous articles, Gardening for Flying Flowers, you will find a brief outline of the anatomy of butterflies. The butterfly's mouthpart, or proboscis, is used to probe for and drink nectar from flowers. Their proboscis is like a long, spiral-like tube and works in a remarkable way, similar to that of an elephant's trunk. As the butterfly forces blood into this spiral-like tube, it then becomes straight. This type of mouthpart means that the butterfly feeds primarily on liquids as opposed to their caterpillars, which have chewing mouthparts.
There are certain minerals that some butterflies, such as swallowtails, sulfurs, and blues need that are not provided in a diet of nectar alone. These minerals are found in standing water, or mud puddles. On learning this, you may be inspired to dash right out into your garden and make a mud puddle or two so your butterflies can get their daily "mineral fix." Not a bad idea! Just another healthful way to attract butterflies to your yard.
You have probably noticed butterflies drinking from almost anyplace they can find water. Maybe you've seen them fluttering around your drippy outdoor faucet, or checking out a water sprinkler that left a small puddle. In natural habitats they often drink from the edges of streams or beneath waterfalls. I found it remarkable that butterflies release the water they drink almost immediately after drinking it. Yet amazingly, they manage to absorb the minerals they need in the process.
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