Butterflies have a long tongue, called a proboscis, which they can curl and uncurl to drink through like a straw. Because of their straw-like mouthparts, butterflies are mainly restricted to a liquid diet. Butterflies use their proboscis to drink sweet nectar from flowers.

Where do butterflies drink?

Most adult butterflies drink nectar from flowers through their tongues, which function much like straws. A minority of butterflies almost never visits flowers, instead gaining sustenance from tree sap, rotting animal matter, and other organic material. Butterfly caterpillars almost all eat plant matter.

How do butterflies drink sugar water?

Use an eyedropper to squirt the sugar water directly into the flowers, so that when the young butterflies land on the flowers they will drink it. Or, dip a rolled up piece of cotton or tissue in the sugar-water solution and set it in the tank or cage for the young butterflies to feed on.