[Rockhounds] Butterflies without flowers

[J. R. Hodel]

Hi all.
I'm not that surprised that the butterfly evolved a sucking tongue before flowers with nectar evolved. Living on a rural farm, I have seen nearly as many butterflies on the blood of a dead rodent or a fresh moist chicken dump as I have seen on butterfly bush. I'm a little surprised that someone studying butterfly fossils hasn't seen the same thing. Yellowjackets (something between a wasp and a bee) do the same thing, as do other bee species.
Nutrition to an insect is where you find it. I suspect they turned to flowers for nectar as a nice addition to a large and varied menu. Just saying.
Awfully interesting to be able to learn about this, on the other hand. Fascinating fossil investigation, but flowers/nectar after butterflies, not that big a deal. There was plenty of liquid foodstuff around.
JR