Mud-puddling of Butterflies

Mud-puddling, or simply puddling, is behaviour most conspicuous in butterflies, but occurs in other animals as well, mainly insects.

They seek out certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter, mud and carrion and they suck up the fluid.

Where the conditions are suitable conspicuous insects such as butterflies commonly form aggregations on wet soil, dung or carrion.

From the fluids they obtain nutrients such as salts and amino acids that play various roles in their physiology, ethology and ecology.