Puddling on Edges of Brackish Water Lakes in High Altitude Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Cold Desert of Ladakh, India

摘要

Two species of butterflies. Papilio machaon ladakensis (family Papilionidae) and Argynnis adippe pallida (family Nymphalidae), have been recorded puddling at edges of three cold-desert, high-altitude brackish water lakes in Ladakh (India). The behavior was solitary and all specimens were males. From these observations, it is concluded that as the only source of water is snow in this area, butterflies exploit brackish water to meet their need for salt content.