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 505 - 528 of 3767 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: nightjarring
Region: Dickinson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Radio Noiz
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 29, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 28, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ionia County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2019
Submitted by: Shawnann74
Region: Oldham County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Allen County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: Benjamin Miller
Region: Knox County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: jsearight
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: marcelle
Region: Stephenson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: schaarschmidt
Region: Georgia, Walker County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Michiganbirder19
Region: Genesee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Thunder Ridge Kid
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: granttwiss
Region: Randolph County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
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