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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 3700 verified sightings
Observation date: May 31, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 01, 2025
Observation date: Apr 26, 1990
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: May 17, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Cabell County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 06, 2025
Observation date: Apr 24, 2025
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 03, 2025
Observation date: May 02, 2025
Submitted by: scream of the b...
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 03, 2025
Observation date: Apr 24, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 22, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 22, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: mothman27
Region: Whitley County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Boone County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 12, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Boone County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 12, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: AuroraMarija
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 22, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2024
Observation date: Sep 03, 2024
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Cass County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: mwalk
Region: Atchison County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 10, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 09, 2024
Submitted by: ships333
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: hypernova2718
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
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