Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis (Boisduval & Leconte, [1835])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Extremely variable geographically. Upperside is reddish brown. Forewing has 1 submarginal eyespot, a jagged row of white spots, and the cell has 1 solid black bar and 2 separate black spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches (3.5 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Hackberry Butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner, and rest upside down on tree trunks. Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid in clusters, and the young caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves.
Flight: Two broods from May-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various hackberries (Celtis species) and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata).
Adult Food: Sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion. Will take moisture at wet spots along roads and streams.
Habitat: Along wooded streams, forest glades and river edges, wooded roadsides, towns.
Range: Resident in most of the eastern United States, central Plains states, and the southwest mountains; northern Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually of conservation concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 3645 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: Ivyfrost
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: Gstoptroop2125
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Newton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: inthelikeness
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: Sherry in Kansas
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: Sklavins
Region: Dubuque County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: LightScavenger
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 04, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: Bequesthero
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: May 15, 2023
Observation date: May 09, 2023
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: KD5NRH
Region: Erath County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 30, 2023
Observation date: Apr 21, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 28, 2023
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 152
- next ›