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 203 verified sightings
Observation date: May 15, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 30, 1994
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 17, 2025
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 07, 2024
Observation date: Nov 26, 2024
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 01, 2024
Observation date: Oct 30, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 12, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2015
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Apr 05, 2024
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Apr 15, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2024
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 03, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 03, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Dec 08, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2024
Observation date: Nov 21, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 21, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 21, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 21, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: fotosmurf
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 17, 2023
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
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