Libythea lepita


Libythea lepita, the common beak, is a butterfly that belongs to the Libytheinae group of the brush-footed butterflies family. It is found from southern India to Japan and its larval food plants include members of the Cannabaceae, particularly in the genera Celtis and Trema.

Description

The species was earlier considered a race of Libythea celtis, the European beak. The following description is based on the older treatment and the race lepita and lepitoides described below refer to this species.

Race ''lepita'' Moore

Race lepita ranges from the Himalayas to upper Myanmar, China and Japan. It differs from the European beak Libythea celtis as follows:

Race ''lepitoides'' Moore

Race lepitoides ranges from southern India to Sri Lanka, and differs from lepita as follows:
Race lepitoides is now considered as a sub-species of Libythea laius.