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 169 - 192 of 2072 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: djarrow
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: lwhite
Region: Texas, Tom Green County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 07, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 07, 2020
Observation date: Aug 05, 2020
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: djarrow
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 13, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: djarrow
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: DAE
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Timbreland16
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 17, 2020
Submitted by: Jenny Leat
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: AdmiralElk
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: jmcgrath
Region: Chisago County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 28, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 28, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Metcalfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: StacyN
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Pamela D. Fisher
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
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