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Libythea celtis / Nettle-tree Butterfly
Caracja
Nymphalidae - Libytheinae
Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782). TL: Bolzano, S. Tirol.
 
 
 
1a. Libythea celtis, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Libythea celtis ♂ upperside. Albania (© Artan Trebicka)
1c. Libythea celtis ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Libythea celtis ♂ lateral. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1e. Libythea celtis ♀ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1f. Libythea celtis ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Medium size butterfly. Fw: 17-22 mm.
Extended palpi , 3-4 times length of the head.
Ups: dark brown gc, orange markings.
Upf: prominent tooth at the apex, small white spot near costa.
Unf: slightly paler gc, markings similar.
Unh: greyish-brown gc, darker stripe on median vein, often white mark at base of v4.
♀♀
Similar size and markings.
Unh: more brownish gc.
Similar species
None.
Life cycle
Adults: single generation, sometimes partial second generation from May to August (depending on altitude) and after overwintering from early spring to April.
Egg: short stage.
Caterpillar: short stage.
Pupa: short stage.
Habitat
Libythea celtis inhabits warm localities with Celtis australis as well near settlements as on rocky slopes with scattered shrubs from lowland up to 1500 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement modest, population density can be high, nomadic.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed mainly on Celtis australis, also mentioned are C. tournefortii, Arbutus unedo, Morus alba and Prunus avium.
Butterflies feed on a variety of flowers, also on flowering trees, mudd-pudling.
Distribution
Albania: widespread.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP* - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU*
Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Caucasus and further east.
Conservation status
Libythea celtis is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: LC.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps
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