Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

 

This gulf fritillary is sipping on dog pee. I declare I saw it happen. I have often seen butterflies (usually swallowtails) sipping from damp sandy areas. This is a documented phenomena called puddling and the butterflies are getting minerals from the soil. The male especially needs these minerals as they are enclosed with the sperm in a spermataphore, and the minerals help the female produce and lay her eggs. As it happens, both urine and dung are excellent sources of minerals.