You might catch a butterfly or two in your garden on occasion but if you want to see butterflies more often, then one way to attract them is by having a butterfly puddler. It’s possible you may have never even heard of a butterfly puddler before and that’s because many people don’t really think about having one. It’s usually something you see more at a butterfly garden than a household but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one.
Ahead, we spoke with a butterfly entomologist about all things butterfly puddlers from what they are to how to make one at home.
According to Skye Bruce, PhD, butterfly entomologist and coordinator at Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative, a butterfly puddler is a shallow container or area filled with moist soil, sand, or gravel that offers essential nutrients like sodium and other minerals to butterflies. “Puddling” is a natural butterfly practice where groups of butterflies, usually males, gather around a puddle to drink.
“Puddlers supplement butterflies’ diets with nutrients they can’t get from nectar alone, especially sodium,” Dr. Bruce says. “Sodium and other micronutrients gathered during puddling are stored in the butterfly’s body and, in males, transferred to females during mating in what’s known as a nuptial gift, which may enhance reproductive success. These nutrients are particularly important for reproductive success and overall fitness.”
Although all butterflies can use a butterfly puddler, those belonging to the swallowtail family are more commonly attracted to them. This can include tiger swallowtails, white admirals and cabbage whites to name a few.
How to make a butterfly puddling
Looking to make a butterfly puddling for your garden? It’s pretty simple and only involves a few steps.
First, use a shallow dish or container, fill it with a mix of sand, soil, and compost, and keep it damp.
Next, Dr. Bruce recommends adding a pinch of salt or wood ash to enhance mineral content. “Flat stones or sticks can give butterflies or bees a dry perch while they drink [since they can’t land on water],” she says.
Lastly, place the butterfly puddler in a sunny, protected area if you can.
Do butterfly puddlers really work?
Yes, butterfly puddlers really work. It may take some time for butterflies to visit, but give it a few days and you’ll likely notice more butterflies than usual outside in your garden.
“Puddling areas serve as gathering points that can increase butterfly visibility and interaction in gardens,” says Dr. Bruce. It usually takes just one butterfly to signal to others to join.
Should a butterfly puddler be in the sun or shade?
In terms of location, Dr. Bruce says that the location of the butterfly puddler isn’t a make-or-break factor.
“On a cooler day or on a cool morning or evening, I would definitely say put it in the sun, because it helps butterflies warm up since they are cold blooded,” she says. “However, they love a dappled shade puddling spot too, especially on hotter days so placing it in the shade on hotter days will also help keep it from drying out as quickly as possible.”
You may also decide to put the butterfly puddler next to butterfly-attracting plants and nectar-rich flowers so they can feed on them.
At the end of the day, while puddling is fascinating and fun to observe, Dr. Bruce says the most meaningful action gardeners can take is planting native host plants.
“For example, monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed (Asclepias spp.), and other species have their own specific plant needs, and they will disappear without their host plants,” she says. “Habitat loss, not lack of puddlers, is the main threat to pollinators so prioritize plants first.”
Source: Dengarden©
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