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 385 - 408 of 3766 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: naterahe
Region: Jasper County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: Mllawso
Region: Winnebago County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: St. Joseph County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 13, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 05, 2021
Observation date: May 27, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2021
Submitted by: Davi
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Apr 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Mar 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: rbumann
Region: Winona County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2014
Submitted by: Wade Wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Jack Connor
Verified date: Feb 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: RainyStorm
Region: Texas, Taylor County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 08, 2021
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