Mud-puddling

Insect feeding behaviour

Mud-puddling, or simply puddling, is a behaviour most conspicuous in butterflies, but also occurring in other animals, primarily insects. The organism seeks out nutrients in certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter, mud, and carrion, and sucks 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 salts and amino acids that play various roles in their physiology, ethology, and ecology. This behaviour also has been seen in some other insects like the leafhoppers, e.g. the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae.

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