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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 193 - 216 of 3765 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 22, 2023
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Hopkins County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 28, 2023
Observation date: Apr 20, 2023
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Hopkins County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 18, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 18, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 15, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 23, 2016
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Gibson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2022
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: Brynne Bryan
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Robert C. Turner
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 30, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2006
Submitted by: Boomertog
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2007
Submitted by: Boomertog
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Blond crestedwarbler
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
- ‹ previous
- 9 of 157
- next ›