<> Libythea myrrha Godart,1819 <>

the Club Beak ผีเสื้อหัวแหลมกระบอง

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 620m a.s.l.

Libythea myrrha is quite common and widespread across the region. Members of this family are easily recognised by the long palpi or beak from which their common names are derived. Basically this elongated labial palpi is a sensory organ that it uses for the detection of pheromones. Both sexes are very similar in appearance and size. It is often seen puddling on damp ground and if disturbed they usually fly up and settle on twigs, where they are well camouflaged as dead leaves.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum but details of their life history is not known. The larvae live on the undersides of leaves and eat everything except the ribs and veins, leaving just a skeleton. When disturbed they are able to drop from the leaves, suspending themselves on silk.

Synonyms and previously used names: Libythea sanguinalis

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Libytheinae - Libythea - myrrha

Regional subspecies: Libythea myrrha hecura (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines), Libythea myrrha myrrha (Java-Indonesia), Libythea myrrha myrrhina (Sumatra-Indonesia), Libythea myrrha sanguinalis (Nepal, NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan-China)

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: Libythea myrrha is found in evergreen and deciduous subtropical forest at moderate elevations, usually near streams. It has been recorded up to 1300m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 45-58mm

Life History: not known

Larval Hosts: Celtis philippensis, Celtis sinensis, Celtis tetrandra, Celtis timorensis (Cannabaceae), Tragia involucrata, Tragia plukenetii (Euphorbiaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Coelogyne corymbosa (Orchidaceae), Rhododendron grande (Ericaceae). There may be other nectar sources although this species is not seen visiting flowers very often. Other: mud puddling, animal dung and urine.