Small White
Feeding on Valerian. Norwich - July 2022
In the back garden, Norwich - July 2021
Eaton Marsh has a ditch which is almost compltely dry at present except at one end where there is a deeper pond. These individuals were puddling by the pond. This is a behaviour I hadn't really been aware of before. Wikipedia says Mud-puddling, or simply puddling, is a behaviour most conspicuous in butterflies, but occurs in other animals as well, mainly insects; they seek out certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter, mud and carrion and they suck up the fluid. Where the conditions are suitable, conspicuous insects such as butterflies commonly form aggregations on wet soil, dung or carrion. From the fluids they obtain nutrients such as salts and amino acids that play various roles in their physiology, ethology and ecology.
They weren't alone, Green-veined Whites (top) were sharing whatever was available. Eaton Marsh, Norwich - Ju;y 2018