Pumping-behavior
Guides
Marpesia
Daggerwings
Marpesia is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, commonly known as daggerwings. These butterflies are found in the Neotropical and Nearctic realms, with species distributed from the southern United States through Central and South America. The genus is named after Marpesia, a queen of the Amazons in Greek and Roman legendary history. Marpesia butterflies are notable for their striking wing patterns and distinctive behavior called "pumping," in which they rapidly imbibe water through their proboscis and expel it from their abdomen, possibly for thermoregulation.
Marpesia zerynthia
Waiter, Waiter Daggerwing
Marpesia zerynthia, commonly known as the waiter or waiter daggerwing, is a Neotropical butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species is named for its distinctive wing shape and behavior. Adults are known for gathering in small groups at wet sand and mud to extract moisture and minerals, a behavior called "puddling." The species exhibits a unique thermoregulatory behavior called "pumping," where butterflies rapidly imbibe and expel water. Development from egg to adult takes 32 days or less under favorable conditions.