Butterfly how do they eat

Butterflies have a long tongue, called a proboscis, which they can curl and uncurl to drink through like a straw. Because of their straw-like mouthparts, butterflies are mainly restricted to a liquid diet. Butterflies use their proboscis to drink sweet nectar from flowers. Nectar sometimes resides deep within a flower and the proboscis allows the butterfly to reach this sugary treat.

We fill the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven with an abundance of flowering plants that produce ample nectar for the butterflies, including: coral vine, firespike, jungle cucumber, Ixora , and lantana. We also provide sponge pads soaked with simulated nectar for the butterflies. The simulated nectar is made by mixing honey and water. Some butterflies also enjoy a different sugary treat, fruit. They especially enjoy fully ripened and rotting fruit.

Why is that? For example, one of the main plants I have seen Black Swallowtails visit in my yard is purple Homestead Verbena which is not listed anywhere that I have found as a favored nectar plant of Black Swallowtails. Another example of varied behavior is that my lantana stays constantly populated with sulphurs as well as many other butterflies even though lantana is not listed as one of their preferred nectar plants.

The point is that these are only guidelines below and you will find many variations of plants and colors that the butterflies like best in your yard. Enjoy the diversity, and experiment to your liking. Click on the linked plants below for pictures, information and sources. Some plants like lantana will probably be easier to pick up from your local nursery. There are a few nectar plants that attract so many butterflies in my garden that I will always make sure I have them every year. If you are interested in raising caterpillars to butterflies then you will also want to plant what the caterpillars eat.

By planting host plants for the caterpillars as well as nectar plants for the butterflies you will not only attract the butterflies but they will stay around longer and will soon be laying eggs. Newsletter for butterfly tips, sales, new products, coupons and more! Email Address. Well, a small little pipe, like a straw, which is coiled under its head most of the time is what an adult butterfly uses to suck up all of the nectar from plants. The straw is called a 'proboscis'.

This is the reason that all butterflies generally stick to an all-liquid diet; it is very hard to suck up any solids with a straw like that for your mouth. It is pretty obvious that if you happen to find yourself an adult butterfly and are looking for a butterfly food source, you should turn toward the liquids.

Butterflies are known for their completely liquid diets, whether they are sampling nectar from all sorts of different flowers, or they are using their long 'straw' to drink up water out of shallow ponds, butterflies are usually always looking for things that are liquid to eat. Our articles are free for you to copy and distribute. Make sure to give www. This is How Butterflies Eat.