Empress Leilia
Asterocampa leilia (W.H. Edwards, 1874)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Upperside is chestnut brown; forewing has 2 solid brown bars in the cell, median white spots, and 2 black eyespots near the outer margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 3 inches (3.8 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Males perch most of the day to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups of 10-15 on the top of host plant leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: All year in South Texas, April-November in Arizona.
Caterpillar Hosts: Tree Celtis pallida in the elm family (Ulmaceae).
Adult Food: Sap and dung, occasionally flower nectar.
Habitat: Thorn scrub, washes, canyons, streamsides.
Range: Southern Arizona east to South Texas, south to central 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 1 - 24 of 182 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 29, 2023
Submitted by: abrasket
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: pkmcp
Region: Brown County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 18, 2023
Observation date: Feb 08, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Dec 07, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 08, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 03, 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: Nov 26, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 28, 2021
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: Honu Green
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2021
Submitted by: Vicki2021
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Oct 11, 2021
Submitted by: Nick Pulcinella
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: justkim1106
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Miq
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 27, 2021
Observation date: May 04, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 22, 2021
Observation date: Mar 24, 2021
Submitted by: Honu Green
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: Mar 28, 2021
Submitted by: Honu Green
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
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