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 73 - 96 of 3749 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Rush County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Erie County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: Keith Myrom
Region: Rice County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: Keith Myrom
Region: Rice County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: DUmhoefer
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2024
Submitted by: Reedberg
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: Doug DeNeve
Region: Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 09, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: debnsync
Region: Alamance County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: skswany
Region: Dakota County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: catbirdcat
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 21, 2024
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