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 313 - 336 of 3765 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: eric_hough
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Kurt R. Schwarz
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2017
Submitted by: RMusgr
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: charlieboy
Region: Allegany County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: nletson
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 25, 2021
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: ratchip
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: 1tom2go
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Oct 06, 2021
Submitted by: JehnMalone
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 21, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Texas, Nolan County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Apr 15, 2019
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 09, 2021
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