New Jersey Butterfly Club

American Snout

Libytheana carinenta

Identification: Small—1.75” (larger than Pearl Crescent). The most distinctive features are the long palps, which give rise to the common name. Above: FW and HW with large, central orange patches surrounded by wide brown margins; outer FW also has prominent white spots. Below: HW and outer margin of FW variable, from plain mauvish-gray to finely striated gray, white, and black with one or more vague, dark patches, to boldly marked with dark patches. Inner FW shows orange, black, and white.

NJ Status and Distribution: Partially resident (southern counties only), but mainly an immigrant from the south. Widespread, although varying in numbers from year to year. Uncommon in the northern counties, much more common in the south.

Habitat: Open areas near woodlands with the food plant.

Flight Period: Mid-April to late October but most seen from June into July, and again in August. Extreme dates: North Jersey 4/17—10/21; South Jersey 1/1—12/28.

Caterpillar Food Plants: Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). In Cape May a Snout was observed laying eggs on Common Hop (Humulus lupulus).

Overwintering Stage: Overwintering status in NJ varies. Snout appears to overwinter at least occasionally in the southern counties but this behavior has not been recorded in the north. In the southeastern U.S., adults overwinter.

Good Locations: Higbee Beach WMA, Sandy Hook GNRA, Rea Farm, Delaware Bayshore from Reed's Beach to Pierce's Point.

Comments: Perhaps our coolest and oddest-looking butterfly. Best searched for in open habitats very near woods where Hackberry is common. Often seen perched on bare ground.