Water Requirements of Butterflies
by Donald Ray Burger
Attorney at Law

Butterflies do not "drink" from pools of water like birds might from a bird bath. Instead, they congregate in the moist earth surrounding the water. This is called mud-puddling.

This mud area is a difficult condition to create. I recommend that you remove the grass from an area near a flower or vegetable bed and run an irrigation dripper to the area. That will provide an easy method to create a regular supply of mud.

Swallowtails and Sulfurs obtain moisture this way. Adding a little table salt to the area will provide a source of sodium. Go easy on this, however. Salt is harmful to plants.

Last revised September 3, 1996

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