How do butterflies eat: what do they eat in the wild and at home?

Each of us at least once in my life saw a butterfly. These lovely creatures, like sunbeams, like to flutter in the meadows and parks of our country. In this regard, it is not surprising that many people often have certain questions about the life of moths. For example, who knows how butterflies feed? What do they eat and where do they get it?

Let's try to find answers to these questions. However, it will be necessary to understand not only the diet of these creatures, but also how they eat. Looking ahead, we will note: much depends on their kind and place, where, actually, butterflies live.

Amazing metamorphosis

Many remember from the school program that the life of a butterfly is divided into four stages: an egg, a larva, a caterpillar and a moth. And the most amount of food this amazing creature uses just the same in the form of a caterpillar. What do we know about this immature metamorphosis of a butterfly? What do young caterpillars eat?

To be honest, these creatures can eat almost all types of plant foods. For example, the same leaves of trees, fruit or berries. In general, there are no restrictions, although each butterfly species has its own preferences. They depend on the habitat, as well as on the abundance of flora that reigns there.

Mature butterflies: what do moths eat in the wild?

To begin with, some butterflies do not eat anything at all. Perhaps this will seem strange, but that's the reality. Take, for example, the moon moth that lives on the island of Madagascar, it does not even have signs of a mouthpiece. And she lives at the expense of those nutrients that had time to be deposited in her body during her stay in the form of a caterpillar.

But this order of things is by no means the norm in the world where butterflies live. What do these creatures eat then? So, for a better understanding, let's examine their diet in more detail.

• Pollen and nectar - this is the basis of their nutrition, because they have almost all the elements necessary for life.
• Rotten fruit. Given the features of the mouthpiece of butterflies, this food is ideal for drinking it with a thin proboscis.
• Manure and bird droppings are not the most pleasant things for us, but moths find many useful minerals there.

What to feed butterflies at home?

Some naturalists keep these amazing creatures at home. With proper care, butterflies can live in such conditions for a rather long period, and sometimes even leave offspring. What can they feed in this case?

First of all, it is necessary to provide them with the same products that they would have at their will: rotten fruits, pollen, tree sap and so on. You can also prepare homemade nectar, for this you need to dilute sugar with ordinary water at room temperature.

Also, remember that there are day and night butterflies. In this regard, there is a completely logical question: "What do night butterflies eat?" In general, the same as usual, only they will eat only in the dark or in a small twilight.