By Astrid Cook, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
Everyone loves butterflies! They are charismatic insects and have captured the imagination of people of all ages. Monarchs, for example, have become an emblem of environmental awareness and the importance of protecting our ecosystems. Today I am going to share a simple way to support many Lepidoptera species – by making a butterfly puddler.
What is a Butterfly Puddler?
A butterfly puddler is a way to replicate the environment that facilitates butterflies’ and moths’ natural behavior of puddling. Puddling is the act of drinking from damp or muddy areas. Butterflies do this to drink water, absorb minerals and salts essential for basic functions, and support reproduction1. Many Lepidoptera species engage in this behavior, including monarchs. By offering an additional supply of these critical nutrients, you can help increase butterflies’ reproductive capacity and have a positive impact amid the ongoing insect crisis. Butterfly populations specifically have declined 20% between 2000 and 2020, according to a March 2025 study published in Science2.
Swallowtail butterflies puddling in a shady gravel driveway (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
Butterfly puddlers differ from butterfly feeders, as they do not include any sugar water, and are not meant to provide a source of nectar or food. Any feeder including sugar water would need very regular cleaning to prevent the spread of bacteria and potentially harm butterflies, similarly to the maintenance required of hummingbird feeders. Butterfly puddlers are a lower maintenance project as they don’t require nearly as much cleaning and still provide essential support to these insects.
Why Make a Butterfly Puddler?
Because it’s fun, quick, cheap, and rewarding! Making a butterfly puddler is a very simple, family-friendly project that only takes a few minutes and can often be done with leftover bits from around the house or garden. It is a great way to provide further opportunities to observe the wildlife in our gardens.
How did I make my Butterfly Puddler?
Butterfly puddlers consist of the following components:
- A shallow container. Natural materials such as terracotta are preferred over plastic, which can hold bacteria.
- Gravel.
- Sand and compost mixture to provide minerals and salts for butterflies to drink.
- A small amount of rainwater to ensure all the above material is damp to facilitate absorption.
- One or two larger, flat stones to act as perches for butterflies to rest on while they drink.
Supplies used in making my butterfly puddler: Container, mixture of soil and sand, gravel, and large flat perch (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
First, select your container. For my puddler, I found a spare terracotta saucer and simply rinsed it with a bit of rainwater.
Second, add a thin layer of gravel across the bottom of the entire container. You only need enough gravel to cover the bottom, in order to provide some structure to the sand and soil.
Terracotta saucer with a layer of pea gravel (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
Next, sprinkle sand and compost or soil mixture to fill the crevices of the gravel.
Terracotta saucer with gravel and soil mixture (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
Position your flat, large stones (or in my case, I used broken bits of pots) to allow the butterflies to perch while drinking.
Terracotta saucer with gravel, soil, and large, flat perch (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
Lastly, add enough rainwater (not tap water, as rainwater has more nutrients and no chlorination) to dampen the soil and sand, and provide a pooling effect.
Finished puddler (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
Do not place your butterfly puddler in direct sun or full sun. They want dappled or filtered sunlight, or part shade. Butterflies are also rather shy so tuck yours into a less busy, quieter part of the garden for best results. I placed mine by some anise hyssop (Agastache sp.), which has already been visited by several skippers and fritillaries.
Finished puddler in my garden (Image credit: Astrid Cook)
While this project is straightforward, it is also very scalable. If you want to make an even bigger impact, you can create several butterfly puddler stations around the garden, or you can add some plants around your puddler to support Lepidoptera species throughout their lifecycles. The world is your oyster, and there are many caterpillar host plants and butterfly or moth nectar plants that would be a great fit in any garden. If you want to especially help endangered butterflies and moths, Xerces Society has a great list of at-risk species, just select “North Carolina” to filter those in our state: At-Risk Butterflies and Moths. Sometimes, you don’t even have to buy plants! For example, violets are the host plant for the at-risk Diana Fritillary – yes, the plant that spreads freely in our lawns and gardens! Simply allowing these plants to grow, flower, and share our outdoor spaces can go a long way to helping endangered species.
Notes
1. https://coastalbg.uga.edu/2023/09/puddling-a-butterflys-secret-garden-of-delight/
2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp4671
Additional Information and Resources
State of the Butterflies in the United States 2025 report, Xerces Society
Gardening for Butterflies book, Xerces Society
Edited by Martha Keehner Engelke, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6jq
