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.
Comments: NULL
Thank you!
We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 174 verified sightings

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, United States, Uvalde County
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

Observation date: Oct 02, 2020
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021

Observation date: Oct 30, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021

Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 03, 2020

Observation date: Sep 04, 2013
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020

Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: DannyboyKS
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 28, 2020

Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020

Observation date: May 13, 2020
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2020

Observation date: Apr 21, 2020
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 22, 2020
- 1 of 8
- next ›