Butterflies of
Europe
Nettle-tree
butterfly
Libythea celtis
LAICHARTING, 1782
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIBYTHEINAE
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Libythea
celtis, Ravni Dabar, Velebit mountains, Croatia
© Peter Bruce-Jones |
Introduction
Most
taxonomists consider the Libytheinae to be one of the most primitive groups of butterflies,
being probably the first to branch from the Nymphalid evolutionary tree.
The
Libytheinae contains only 13 species worldwide. The 4 found in the Americas
were transferred in 1943 to a newly erected genus
Libytheana, namely carinenta, which is found
in North and South America; and terena,
motya and fulvescens
all of which are found on islands in the Caribbean.
All of the Old World
Libytheinae are placed in the
genus Libythea.
There is one species on Mauritius, one in Africa, 2 on Madagascar, and one on
the Marquesas islands in Polynesia. The most widely distributed species is
celtis has an almost contiguous distribution from
Portugal to Japan.
Libythea
are characterised by having dark uppersides marked with orange streaks
and spots, and undersides cryptically marbled in shades of brown. The angular fw
apex is another feature common to all the species. By far the most
characteristic feature however is the long "beak" formed by the elongated labial
palpi. The palpi are sensory organs used for the detection of pheromones, and
are far more prominent in Libytheines than in any other group of butterflies.
Habitats
To be completed.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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