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Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782) Nettle-Tree Butterfly

Ypthima asterope 1 species in the Levant. to ‘mud-puddle’ where “freshly emerged adults often congregate in
A vagrant species and the only representative of the Libytheinae

distinctive ‘snout’ (formed by long labial palpi), and markedly dentate
About 130 species, Palaeotropical, Australian
square-tipped forewing. The species takes nectar, but is also known
& Palaearctic.
# Ypthima Hübner, 1818 found, sparingly, in the region. L. celtis is easily recognized by its
large numbers to drink on damp ground” perhaps leading to dispersal
away from breeding areas during the summer and “If disturbed larvae
+RVWSODQWV Poaceae.
descend 2-3 m from their hostplant on silken threads” (for defence)
(Tolman, 1997: 139). In Cyprus, most specimens have been observed
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 2 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:47 | SR:-- | Magenta
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 2 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:47 | SR:-- | Yellow
in light woodland at 1000 – 1500 m (John & Makris, 2001), but is
#21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 2 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:47 | SR:-- | Black
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 2 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:47 | SR:-- | Cyan
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also found at higher elevations. Hilltopping & territorial males were HJJ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
lar v a
observed by DB on 11 June 2016 in Mt Ossa (Mt Kissavos) 1450-1600 pupa
m Thessalia, Greece and on 24 May 2019 on top of a Kalambaka
- Meteora peak observatory, 500 m Trikala, N Greece. Territorial
Proterebia phegea Roos & Arnscheid, 1980 and photographed on a flat grey rock, in an opening at 1400 m in S
males may defend their territories for several days (Lafranchis et
Proterebia
al., 2015: 394). The most southerly Levant record was on 24 June
2014 when a single closed-wings cryptic specimen was observed
.L]LOGDø·V EODFN SLQH IRUHVW 6 $PDQRV 0W +DWD\ '% SHUV REV ´L.
Monotype, Palaearctic.
celtis is known to migrate during July and August to cooler or higher
elevations, returning to lowlands by September” (Thiele, 2016).
1 species in the Levant.
+RVWSODQWV Poaceae.
%LRORJ\
)OLJKW SHULRG late April to October local and sedentary from 900 to
1500+ m in the Troodos Mt, Cyprus (John & Makris, 2001; Makris,
2003: 204, 287); June 400-1600 m in Hatay (Atahan et al., 2018:
44; DB pers. obs.); Late March to early August (rarely later) sl–2750
m (Van) Turkey (Hesselbarth et al., 1995(2): 761).
© Dubi Benyamini
Subfamily +HOLFRQLLQDH Swainson, 1822 /LIH KLVWRU\ univoltine (although with a possible partial second brood
in August-October). Eggs are laid in spring, near the opening buds
or on the underside of a leaf. The egg is 0.7 mm in length, off-white
and ridged longitudinally and transversally changing to light orange
after two days. L1 is light grey changing after feeding to yellow-
Clossiana euphrosyne 30 species, Holarctic. dorsally and on the head capsule” and “very short blackish dorsal © Leah benyamini © Adam Warecki
green and green with a light green head. The mature larva is 30 mm
long, green with a yellow dorsal median line, “small pale yellow dots
Clossiana Reuss, 1920

body bristles” – similar in appearance to Pieridae larva (Thiele,
2016). Larval population explosion that defoliated complete tree,
1 species in the Levant.
causing high mortality to young larvae by starvation and predation
by spiders and birds was documented. The pupa is approximately 15
+RVWSODQWV: Betulaceae, Empetraceae,
mm in length, usually green, but colour may vary, possibly to enhance
Ericaceae, Lamiaceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae,
camouflage (Kawahara, 2006). The pupa suspends from a tail pad,
Ranunculaceae, Salicaceae, Saxifragaceae,
hidden beneath a hostplant leaf and ecloses after one to three
Violaceae.
weeks. Adults hibernate in winter to reappear next spring. (Chinery,
1989: 76; Lafranchis, 2004; Lafranchis et al., 2015: 394 & Eddie
John pers. comm.)
5HFRUGHG KRVWSODQWV Celtidaceae/Cannabaceae: Celtis australis, © Eddie John © Eddie John
C. tournefortii (John & Makris, 2001), C. caucasica, C. glabrata;
Issoria Hübner, [1819]
Ulmaceae: Ulmus minor and U. glabra reluctantly in captivity (Tolman
Issoria lathonia 8 species, Palaearctic & African. et al., 2006).

& Lewington, 1997: 139); Betulaceae: Alnus glutinosa (Toper Kaygin
(including Kuekenthaliella Reuss, 1921)].

'LVWULEXWLRQ TL: Bolzano, S Tirol. Range extends from N Algeria,
1 species in the Levant.
NW Tunisia through S Europe and the Mediterranean islands including
Cyprus, Turkey, southern Russia and Iran to western India. The Nettle-
+RVWSODQWV Boraginaceae, Fabaceae,
tree Butterfly expanded its southern Levant distribution limit to S
Rosaceae, Violaceae.
Hatay – as described above and may migrate further south to close-
by N Syria. Absent from Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan & Sinai. (Earlier
L. celtis records from China and Japan referred to the ssp. L. c. lepita,
since elevated to species rank (Kawahara, 2006)). © Eddie John © Eddie John
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