Rajendra P Kerkar
The autumn is the most favourable season for butterflies watching in Goa. During morning and evening, generally, newly hatched male butterflies are seen involved in mud-puddling on damp sand or mud banks. This act of butterflies is mesmerizing the nature lovers in the natural habitats of Goa.
Since the hoary past, butterflies have always fascinated mankind. Among a variety of insects, butterflies are widely appreciated. However, social activity of these beautiful creatures of mud-puddling wherein males of one or more species seen on damp patches sucking salts present in the mud along with water is attracting the nature lovers.
most butterflies are interested in mud-puddling in cool and soothing environment together in large congregations of one or more species. The forested water bodies, free from human disturbances are generally preferred by these butterflies for mud-puddling.
Swallowtails, the Common blue bottle, common jay, Glassy blue bottle, Spot swordtail are found to be avid mud puddlers in the forested water bodies. The butterflies obtain salts and amino acids that play important role in their life cycle. They seek out nutrients in certain moist substances, such as rotting plant matter, wet clay. Mud-puddling behaviour among the butterflies generally takes place on the wet soil."
This phenomenon is mostly found in the post-monsoon season. Males of butterflies seem to benefit from the sodium uptake through mud-puddling behaviour with an increase in reproductive success.
Though butterflies get most of their nutrition from flower nectar, they need some salts and minerals that are required for reproduction. These nutrients are generally found at mud puddles.
As soon as the monsoon season is over, mostly on the river bed, one can enjoy beautiful sighting of mud-puddling butterflies. If no disturbance is caused by mud-puddling males often spend a long time on the damp patches.
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