Butterfly Behaviors

• Basking: Sunlight is the elixir of life for butterflies; they need it to fly. When basking, butterflies position their wings at a right angle to the incoming light. The warmth from basking is transferred to the butterfly’s thoracic flight muscles. If you watch a butterfly basking, you may notice that if slowly opens and closes their wings. They are regulating heat absorption and dispersal.
• Puddling: Groupings of butterflies often congregate at pools or along streams and rivers to drink water and extract minerals from water and mud.
• Mating: Once a male finds a potential mate, he flies either above or behind the female, often with an increased fluttering wingbeat. If the female is receptive, the male grasps her with his claspers and transfers a spermatophore. Mating usually lasts several hours and often occurs while the pair is flying. After mating is completed, the male flies off to find another female and the female begins the search for a host plant.
• Fighting: Some male butterflies are territorial. They chase males of their species away, but allow females to rest and feed in their territory.