Mud-puddling flock (Dryas iulia), Santa María, Colombia
After seeing this behavior where hundreds of butterflies feed on mud for the first time in Sri Lanka, we now saw it again in Colombia. This particular patch of mud attracted hundreds of butterflies, with the dominant species being Dryas iulia (presumed identification).
With thousands of such muddy patches on the same path, it's weird to see all empty except this one place. Wikipedia explains that in some cases, this is behavioral (males copying each other's behavior), not because this specific place is so special.
The second species in the flock (about 10%) is the Common Melwhite:
"Dryas iulia" is a species of brush-footed butterfly. The sole representative of its genus "Dryas", it is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. Over 15 subspecies have been described.
