American snout butterfly on goldenrod flowers
On October 29th I photographed this American snout butterfly, Libytheana carinenta, on some goldenrod flowers that were growing around the pond at Central Market on North Lamar Blvd. If you’d like an even closer view from another frame that will better reveal how hairy the snout and head are, click the thumbnail below.
© 2018 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Time, Attention and a Great Eye…congrats Steve and Happy Thanksgiving
MichaelStephenWills
November 23, 2018 at 5:51 AM
And a cooperative butterfly. In general this species seems more docile than many others. A few days ago I even touched one with the tip of my finger and it didn’t fly away. It’s been a good season for snout butterflies in Austin, for which I’m thankful.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 8:19 AM
I was looking at one in Temple yesterday that was acting just like the one you saw.
Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall
November 24, 2018 at 7:49 PM
Thanks for your corroboration of that behavior. Maybe there’s something special about the Interstate 35 corridor—or maybe not.
Steve Schwartzman
November 24, 2018 at 9:04 PM
Very interesting butterfly. The ‘snout’ I presume is just part of its head as, in common with other butterflies, it uses the proboscis to drink nectar. What astonishes me is how even the eyes are camouflaged to be in keeping with the patterning on the rest of its body. Nature is so amazing – as are your photographic skils!
Val
November 23, 2018 at 6:11 AM
Thanks for your vote of confidence. An article about this species says: “Snout butterflies have prominent elongated mouthparts (labial palpi) which, in concert with the antennae, give the appearance of the petiole (stem) of a dead leaf. Snouts often take advantage of their brilliant camouflage by hanging upside down under a twig, making them nearly invisible.” If the snout weren’t so prominent, I’ll bet some people would have called this a dead leaf butterfly.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Almost certainly.
Val
November 23, 2018 at 8:41 AM
Then let’s play queen and king of nomenclature and give other people permission to use that name.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 8:44 AM
Fascinating design from nature! Didn’t know about these!
Maria
November 23, 2018 at 7:14 AM
The range map at https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Libytheana-carinenta shows this species in Florida, so now that you’re aware of it I hope you’ll see it.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 8:35 AM
Thanks for the link!
Maria
November 24, 2018 at 7:24 AM
Sure thing. Now you can hope a snout butterfly will flutter by.
Steve Schwartzman
November 24, 2018 at 7:35 AM
I can’t decide what attracts me more in this picture, the butterfly or the flower. But whatever, I like it. Great shot.
Pit
November 23, 2018 at 8:54 AM
There’s no need to choose: you’re welcome to enjoy the butterfly as much as the goldenrod.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 9:19 AM
agreed!
Pit
November 23, 2018 at 9:20 AM
What a bizarre-looking creature, but like some homely dogs, kind of appealing.
Robert Parker
November 23, 2018 at 9:19 AM
But homely dogs can’t fly. Also unlike canines, butterflies apparently can “smell” through their feet.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 9:30 AM
fascinating! disguised as a dry leaf, yet colorful inside!
da-AL
November 23, 2018 at 6:09 PM
When one of these butterflies flutters around flowers it opens and closes its wings, revealing their colorful upper surface. For resting, it closes its wings and becomes a leaf.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 6:13 PM
swoon 🙂
da-AL
November 28, 2018 at 11:40 PM
Just as long as you recover….
Steve Schwartzman
November 29, 2018 at 8:11 AM
lol
da-AL
December 3, 2018 at 7:02 PM
I’d heard that these snout butterflies were thick in Austin this fall, but I’d not yet seen such a detailed image of one. I understand why it’s called a ‘snout’ butterfly, since that’s its most prominent feature, but I wish it weren’t. The name seems somehow — unattractive — for a creature that’s sort of cute, like the anteater that it resembles. I’m glad you added the closer view; the details are remarkable.
shoreacres
November 23, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Speaking of these butterflies being thick in Austin this year, I’ll add a post later tomorrow showing a couple of dozen of them on some frostweed flowers three weeks ago. I’m still seeing this species, as recently as a few hours ago. There’s no doubt about why people took to calling them snout butterflies, which is why I felt obligated to show a close-up of that prominent feature. I agree with you that the name carries negative public relations value.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 7:31 PM
Fascinating creature! I have neve seen anything like that!
montucky
November 23, 2018 at 8:12 PM
At http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/North%20America%20-%20Libytheana%20carinenta.htm I just found out out that there are 13 species of snout butterflies in the world. This is the only one I’ve ever seen in Austin.
Steve Schwartzman
November 23, 2018 at 9:59 PM
[…] the previous post showed you a close and then an even closer view of an individual American snout butterfly (Libytheana carinanta), look at the swarm I found on some frostweed flowers (Verbesina virginiana) […]
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November 24, 2018 at 4:38 PM
That name made me smile, Steve, but it is very apropos! 😊
tanjabrittonwriter
November 24, 2018 at 4:59 PM
Is it also apropos to say Schnauzeschmetterling?
Steve Schwartzman
November 24, 2018 at 5:07 PM
I don’t know how apropos it is, but your literal translation is perfectly understandable.
dict.cc translates it as “Schnauzenfalter.”
tanjabrittonwriter
November 24, 2018 at 6:00 PM
That does seem better. Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
November 24, 2018 at 6:04 PM
You are welcome.
tanjabrittonwriter
November 24, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Interesting. Makes me want to open this WordPress reader more often!
Cliff
November 24, 2018 at 8:46 PM
I’ve seldom used the WordPress reader. If it brought you here, so much the better.
Steve Schwartzman
November 24, 2018 at 9:21 PM
[…] posting about an American snout butterfly recently, I gave its scientific name: Libythaena carinenta. Later I wondered whether that species […]
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