Minerals for Butterflies!

While walking along a gravelly/dirt road today, we found and photographed many butterfly species getting nourishment by drinking minerals from the ground. We unfortunately chose a day when the road was being graded, but after each pass of the machine, the butterflies happily returned to the disturbed road! It must be easier to poke a tiny, straw-like proboscis into soft ground as opposed to hard-packed soil from vehicular traffic! 

Compton Tortoiseshell

Coral Hairstreak

 

Mourning Cloak

 

Question Mark (note the ? on the wing)

Summer Azure

Tawny Emperor