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Observations document puddling behavior in butterfly species, highlighting preferences for damp soil over mud.
Six butterfly species in four families were observed puddling on damp soil, scat and carrion in various locations in Montgomery County, Maryland and on small islands in the Potomac River. Four species preferred damp soil to nearby mud, but the reason for this behavior is unknown. The presence of butterflies on small islands in the Potomac River is documented for the first time.
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Aydin Örstan (2026) studied this question.
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