What do adult butterflies and moths eat?

Adult butterflies and moths primarily feed on floral nectar, which they consume using a specialized, tubular proboscis adapted for sucking liquids. While nectar is the chief source of nutrition, they may also supplement their diet with sap (particularly if it is fermenting), overripe fruits, homopteran honeydew, fecal matter, and carrion.123

Feeding habits vary significantly across the order Lepidoptera:

• Feeding Mechanisms: Most adults possess a proboscis, though in some species, these mouthparts are reduced or vestigial, meaning the adults do not feed at all and rely entirely on energy stored during the larval stage.45
• Sensory Guidance: They locate food sources using sight and scent. Notably, some butterflies can taste sugar solutions using receptors located on their feet.312
• Evolutionary Context: The evolution of these insects is closely tied to the development of flowering plants, which provide their primary food source. While many relationships are mutualistic, they are rarely obligate, with notable exceptions such as the yucca moth and yucca plant.123