It is found from southern India to Japan and its larval food plants include members of the Cannabaceae, particularly in the genera Celtis and Trema.

[1] The species was earlier considered a race of Libythea celtis, the European beak.

[2] The following description is based on the older treatment and the race lepita and lepitoides described below refer to this species.

[3] Race lepita ranges from the Himalayas (Shimla and Sikkim to Assam) to Upper Myanmar, China and Japan.

It differs from the European beak Libythea celtis as follows: Race lepitoides ranges from southern India to Sri Lanka, and differs from lepita as follows: Race lepitoides is now considered as a sub-species of Libythea laius.