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 97 - 120 of 3657 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Robert C. Turner
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 30, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2006
Submitted by: Boomertog
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2007
Submitted by: Boomertog
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Blond crestedwarbler
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: marlin and connie
Region: Texas, Swisher County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 08, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: SarahNikkiDee
Region: Woodford County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: RMusgr
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2022
Submitted by: Bonnie B
Region: Georgia, Wilkes County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: cineastefabre
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 04, 2017
Submitted by: ChampionDovar
Region: St. Charles County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
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