Common Glider
Common NameCommon Glider
Scientific NameNeptis sappho
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyLimenitidinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Primary Colorswhite, dark brown
HabitatForest edges, open woodlands, clearings, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEastern Europe, temperate Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and parts of Southeast Asia
Host PlantsLespedeza bicolor, Glycine max, Pueraria lobata
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are green with yellow stripes and feed on various leguminous plants. They pupate into a green chrysalis, often camouflaged among leaves.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive broad white band on the hindwings and the broken white band on the forewings, set against a dark brown background. The flight is characteristic, involving long glides.
Description
This butterfly has a striking pattern of white bands and spots on a dark brown to black background, with intricate wavy patterns along the wing margins.
