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 73 - 96 of 3685 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: drerbium
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: JediOfTheSea 420
Region: New Madrid County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: JediOfTheSea 420
Region: New Madrid County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Bledsoe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: derrell_d
Region: Texas, Randall County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2023
Submitted by: calamaricrush
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Renville County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: Sherry in Kansas
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: Ivyfrost
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: Gstoptroop2125
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Newton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: inthelikeness
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: Sherry in Kansas
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: Sklavins
Region: Dubuque County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
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