Habitat & Diet

When most people picture a butterfly feeding, they imagine it floating from flower to flower, gently sipping nectar. That picture is accurate — but it is not the whole story. So, what do butterflies drink besides nectar? Adult butterflies mainly drink nectar because it gives them the sugary energy they need for flying, mating, and migration. But many butterflies also visit tree sap, rotting fruit, damp soil, mud puddles, sweat, and even animal droppings to get minerals, salts, and extra nutrients they cannot always find in flowers. It may sound strange at first, but once you understand how butterflies feed, … Read more

There is something unmistakably summery about seeing butterflies drift across a garden border or settle on a patch of wildflowers. If you have ever paused beside a hedge, a meadow, or even a small urban garden and wondered what you were looking at, this guide to common butterflies in the UK is a good place to start. The UK has a surprisingly rich butterfly population, and some species are regular visitors to gardens, parks, hedgerows, and woodland edges. The nice thing is that you do not need to be an expert to begin identifying them. In fact, a slightly overcast … Read more