Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & Leconte, [1835])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Geographically variable. Upperside is chestnut brown; forewing with 2 brown bars in the cell, no white spots, and no eyespots near the outer margin. Hindwing uppersides are orange with black submarginal spots in one form, and all black in the other form.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 3/4 inches (4.2 - 7 cm).
Life History: Males perch on trees in full sun to watch for females. Eggs are laid in large groups of 200-500 on bark or the underside of mature leaves of host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and young ones feed gregariously. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate in groups of about 10 inside a dead curled leaf.
Flight: One brood in the north from June-August, two broods in the south from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Trees of the elm family including Celtis occidentalis, C. tenuifolia, C. laevigata, C. lindheimeri, and C. reticulata.
Adult Food: Tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion. Tawny Emperors almost never visit flowers.
Habitat: Densely wooded riparian areas, dry woods, open woods, cities, fencerows, parks.
Range: North Dakota south to Texas, east to New England through most of the southeastern states. Isolated populations in Florida, southwest New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually of ocnservation 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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 337 - 360 of 2078 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 26, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2017
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: Jeanne9953
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 24, 2017
Observation date: Jul 23, 2017
Submitted by: SDozzler
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 23, 2017
Submitted by: Uandmeor1
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Sheryl Johnson
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 30, 2013
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Rooks County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 26, 2017
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: JC32647
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2017
Observation date: Jun 29, 2017
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2017
Observation date: Jun 19, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 21, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 05, 2017
Observation date: May 06, 2017
Submitted by: threeagoutdoors
Region: Texas, Throckmorton County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 01, 2017
Observation date: May 17, 2017
Submitted by: Bill Wright_Texas
Region: Ellis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 22, 2017
Observation date: Apr 16, 2017
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 13, 2017
Observation date: May 23, 2015
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: Texas, Tom Green County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 06, 2017
Observation date: May 23, 2015
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: Texas, Tom Green County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 06, 2017
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2016
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2016
Observation date: Nov 03, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2016
Observation date: Sep 28, 2016
Submitted by: bobreed1987
Region: Gillespie County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2016
Observation date: Oct 08, 2016
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 14, 2016
Observation date: Sep 12, 2016
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Elmore County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 02, 2016
Observation date: Sep 29, 2016
Submitted by: whbauer
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 01, 2016
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