SODIUM UPTAKE BY PUDDLING IN A MOTH

Male Lepidoptera commonly visit stands of water to drink, a behavior k nown as puddling. Males of the notodontid moth Gluphisia septentrionis routinely puddle for hours, imbibing hundreds of gut-loads and voidin g the fluid as repetitive anal jets. Cationic analyses showed puddling to lead to systemic sodium gain, a potential benefit to Gluphisia, wh ose larval food plant is low in sodium. Male Gluphisia are specialized for puddling, possessing a wide oral slit and a highly expanded enter ic surface. The acquired sodium is transferred to the female at mating , for eventual incorporation into the eggs. Sodium acquisition may be the primary function of puddling in Lepidoptera.