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 49 - 72 of 3689 verified sightings
Observation date: May 09, 2024
Submitted by: dbledsoe7
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 09, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: Don Morrow
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Lyon County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 27, 2006
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 21, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2019
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 28, 2024
Observation date: Oct 25, 2023
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Warren County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 12, 2023
Observation date: May 12, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 24, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: Jorie
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2023
Submitted by: TNnutter
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: SandraWilliams
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Aug 13, 2023
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 21, 2023
Submitted by: davek
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 21, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: Kifallang
Region: Preble County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2023
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