American Snout
Libytheana carinenta
When resting, they point their elongated mouthparts (palpi) downward, perfectly mimicking a dead leaf's petiole to fool predators.
- Scientific name
- Libytheana carinenta
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae › Libytheana
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, woodland edges, brushy areas, and river valleys near hackberry trees.
- Diet
- Adults drink nectar from aster, goldenrod, and dogwood blossoms, as well as sap, bird droppings, and moisture from damp soil. Caterpillars feed exclusively on hackberry leaves (Celtis spp.).
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- Wingspan of 3.5 to 5.0 cm (1.3 to 2.0 inches).
- Lifespan
- Up to several months for overwintering adults; 2-3 weeks for summer generations.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, loss of host hackberry trees, and widespread pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. You can observe them from inches away as they puddle on damp soil or rest on tree trunks. If they land on you, remain still to enjoy their ticklish touch as they seek salts from your skin.
Libytheana carinenta also called the American snout butterfly or common snout butterfly is a member of the subfamily Libytheinae in the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. This species is found in both North and South America. The larval host plants are Celtis species on which the eggs are laid singly. Massive migrations of this species often attract attention in the Texas and Mexican newspapers.
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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