September 27, 2026
God’s love for small details shows in many areas of the natural world. Recently, I learned the word “lachryphagy.”
This practice occurs when insects feed on the tears and eye secretions of other species. They gather nutrients like sodium and proteins.
An example is found when a butterfly lands on the head of a turtle and proceeds to “sip” some of the turtle’s tears. The fancy word for this is “commensalism,” where one species benefits (the butterfly) while the other (the turtle) is largely unaffected. (There are beautiful photos of this online. I always marvel at the patience of photographers who capture the wonders of nature.)
Apparently, the turtle tears are a rich source of sodium, an essential mineral. In case you are wondering, sometimes turtles will eat butterflies, a separate transaction from the “sipping” event!
