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Swallowtail butterflies 'puddling'
Papilio glaucus / Papilio troilus / Papilio polyxenes
35.7025, -87.2189
Field Notes
Description:
Male Eastern, Black & Spicebush swallowtails 'puddling' in moist soil at the edge of Williamsport lake.
By sipping moisture from mud puddles, butterflies take in salts and minerals from the soil. This behavior is called puddling, and is mostly seen in male butterflies. That's because males incorporate those extra salts and minerals into their sperm.
Notes:
There were at least 30 swallowtails in this one spot.
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