Nettle-tree Butterfly

Characterized by a snout-like projection on its face, resembling a tengu (a long-nosed Japanese goblin).

Scientific name	Libythea celtis
English name	Nettle-tree Butterfly
Japanese name	天狗蝶
Class	Insecta
Order	Lepidoptera
Family	Nymphalidae
Genus	Libythea
Species	celtis
Full length	20-30mm
Distribution	Honshu and southward

Nettle-tree Butterfly Characteristics and Morphology

A butterfly with brownish-orange markings. As the Japanese name suggests, it has a distinctive head.
The proboscis (palpi, labial palps) extending forward from the head is developed like a tengu's nose. The upperside of the wings is brown with orange patterns, and there are two white spots on the edge of the forewings. The underside of the wings is a plain brown color, resembling wood for camouflage.

Male

The orange pattern on the forewings of males is slightly smaller.

Female

The orange pattern on the forewings of females is slightly more spread out towards the edge.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Ecology

Habitat

Inhabits forests in plains and mountains.

Food

Larvae feed on the leaves of hackberry trees (Celtis sinensis). Adults feed on flower nectar.

Life Cycle

Occurs about twice from summer to autumn. Adults overwinter and become active again in spring.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Photos

Nettle-tree Butterfly Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.

Features orange patterns and white spots.

The underside of the wings has a plain color.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Behavior

Adults fly quickly.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Information

Naming

The specific name "celtis" is derived from the genus name "Celtis" (hackberry trees), referring to the larval food plant.

Previously, this species constituted its own family, Libytheidae, but it is now classified as a subfamily of the Nymphalidae family.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Found Locations

Katakurajō跡 Park, Hachiōji

Observed at Katakurajō跡 Park in Hachiōji. Katakurajō跡 Park has a variety of creatures due to the different environments from the grassland at the entrance to the forest on the slope.
This Libythea celtis was perched on the grass near the entrance of the forest. It flew quickly from flower to flower, sucking nectar. The nose-like palpi give it a different silhouette from other butterflies.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Observation Log

These are the observation logs where we found Nettle-tree Butterfly.

2021-04-10

There were still few butterflies, and they weren't flying much. I saw a Snout Butterfly several times, as it seemed to be one of the first to become active.