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 457 - 480 of 3767 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2020
Submitted by: Olive C
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: Ilona L.
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Sep 19, 2020
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: Babo
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 19, 2020
Observation date: Apr 15, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Richland Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 10, 2020
Submitted by: Saxtonine
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 11, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 09, 2020
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 02, 2020
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 21, 2020
Submitted by: janike
Region: Tazewell County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 30, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Wiseman
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Bzbamona
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Bzbamona
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 29, 2020
Submitted by: amparrish15
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Kelly Drury
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 27, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Shannon County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Pondboy
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: willmx
Region: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
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