Leaves of the foodplant, the nettle tree (Celtis australis)
The first nettle tree butterfly I saw, in the South of France
in July 2004
Distribution
This fascinating butterfly is the only member of its group, the Libytheinae,
in Europe. It has several striking physical features, notably the long,
snout-like palpi (giving the group its common name, the snout
butterflies), its gently widening rather than club-shaped antennae and
the hump on the hindwing, breaking up the outline. All these contribute
to its excellent camouflage when hibernating in dead leaves. They also
mean it is almost impossible to confuse this species with any other.
Less obviously, but interestingly, shares with the Duke of Burgundy the
pecularity that the female has three pairs of functional legs while the
male has only two. This is sometimes useful for sexing individuals
resting with they wings above their backs.
I watch this species chiefly in northern Italy, in a valley where the
foodplant, Celtis
australis -
the nettle tree, grows abundantly. In early spring, even before the
buds begin to unfurl, hibernated adults may be seen scouting these
trees and often resting on them, opening their wings fully to the
spring sun. By the time the leaves are growing, females have been mated
and are busy looking for places to lay their eggs. At least some of the
offspring of these spring butterflies produce a second, short-lived,
breeding generation in June and early July. Others, as well as the
product of this second brood, go on to hibernate and do not breed until
the following spring. Many books state that there is only one brood per
year. My eighth picture above, however, clearly shows a female looking
to lay in July and I have seen others doing the same thing.
