Wet mud and butterflies - the two do go together.
Two-spot Grass Yellows bustle on wet mud Male butterflies drink up moisture retaining only nutrients that are dissolved, and quickly get rid of the water that would otherwise weigh them down.
Common Mormons (background) and Common Gulls (foreground) puddle together
The nutrients are passed on to females during mating, and improve the chances of the eggs surviving.
Common Lime butterfly gets its share of nutrients
Nutrients are also obtained from over-ripe fruit, sap, dung, and rarely, even blood.
(All photographs were taken on 18 Apr 2010 at Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.)
Common Mormons (background) and Common Gulls (foreground) puddle togetherThe nutrients are passed on to females during mating, and improve the chances of the eggs surviving.
Common Lime butterfly gets its share of nutrientsNutrients are also obtained from over-ripe fruit, sap, dung, and rarely, even blood.
(All photographs were taken on 18 Apr 2010 at Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.)
Makes me want to go right back to the field. Love the Grass Yellows - looks like a souffle!
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