A yellow-sulphured butterfly sipping moisture cover photo - 263775045

More Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Cover Photos

Cover photo description:
This is a Coliadinae subfamily butterfly. There are about 35 species in the Neotropical region. Sometimes is not easy to identify the specific species. By sipping moisture from mud puddles, butterflies take in salts and minerals from the soil. This behavior is calledÂ puddling, and is mostly seen in male butterflies. That's because males incorporate those extra salts and minerals into their sperm. When butterflies mate, the nutrients are transferred to the female through the spermatophore. These extra salts and minerals improve the viability of the female's eggs, increasing the couple's chances of passing on their genes to another generation. Observed near lake PetÃ©n ItzÃ¡ shores, El Remate village.

leaf wildlife flower soil green nature plant grass animal tree wildflower woodland lawn insect produce forest shrub sulphur yellow sulphured butterfly sipping moisture coliadinae subfamily species neotropical region easy identify specific mud puddles butterflies salts minerals behavior called puddling male males incorporate extra sperm mate nutrients transferred female spermatophore improve viability female s eggs increasing couple s passing genes generation lake petén itzá shores butterfly region species soil butterflies sperm spermatophore generation remate village