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 337 - 360 of 3765 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: L Reid
Region: Cumberland County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 08, 2021
Observation date: Sep 26, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: De Soto Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 01, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2021
Submitted by: mangagkakawatak
Region: Grady County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: Judy Janes
Region: Maries County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: M2Lovebrid
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: bumblefina
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 22, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2021
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 13, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: May 24, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 21, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2021
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: May 23, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Rekittke
Region: Franklin County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: cmeiserlee
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
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