Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis (Boisduval & Leconte, [1835])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Extremely variable geographically. Upperside is reddish brown. Forewing has 1 submarginal eyespot, a jagged row of white spots, and the cell has 1 solid black bar and 2 separate black spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches (3.5 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Hackberry Butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner, and rest upside down on tree trunks. Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid in clusters, and the young caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves.
Flight: Two broods from May-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various hackberries (Celtis species) and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata).
Adult Food: Sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion. Will take moisture at wet spots along roads and streams.
Habitat: Along wooded streams, forest glades and river edges, wooded roadsides, towns.
Range: Resident in most of the eastern United States, central Plains states, and the southwest mountains; northern 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 3741 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 29, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 30, 2025
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: MistyLyn
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 30, 2025
Submitted by: leskokid
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 21, 2025
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 27, 2025
Observation date: Aug 25, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Scott County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Pepi
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: BT
Region: Texas, Jones County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 07, 2025
Submitted by: jim5
Region: Braxton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 05, 2025
Submitted by: pamelapeak
Region: Johnson County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: Jlucas
Region: Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: PhotoGwen88
Region: Winona County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: Metalli112
Region: Woodford County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
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