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 289 - 312 of 3773 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: monkeyslug
Region: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 09, 2021
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: cinder
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 23, 2022
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: jmthornton
Region: Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: AnKrichten
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Mar 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2021
Submitted by: danielfoxnm
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Brynne Bryan
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 20, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 18, 2022
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