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 529 - 552 of 3768 verified sightings
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: L Reid
Region: Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Cherie Sneed
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: foxsparrow
Region: St. Clair County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Georgia, Walker County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Texas, Morris County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2009
Submitted by: cattailsandcobwebs
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: Maryelisabetth
Region: Georgia, Walton County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 10, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: RichardMarcum
Region: Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: Kyle McLeod
Region: Texas, Tom Green County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: RichardMarcum
Region: Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 01, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2018
Submitted by: Greg Giesing
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2018
Submitted by: Jane Willig
Region: Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2010
Submitted by: C. West
Region: Shelby County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Apr 09, 2020
Observation date: Aug 21, 2016
Submitted by: C. West
Region: Shelby County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Apr 07, 2020
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Jennie Lanzendorf
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: jzempel1
Region: Renville County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: Laurelogren
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
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