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Species Asterocampa clyton - Tawny Emperor - Hodges#4562.1

Tawny Emperor - Asterocampa clyton - female

Asterocampa clyton texana (Texas Tawny Emperor) - Asterocampa clyton - male

Texas Tawny Emperor at TX mini-gathering - Asterocampa clyton - female

ID help please.... - Asterocampa clyton - female

Tawny emperor butterfly - Asterocampa clyton

Butterfly to black light - Asterocampa clyton

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Subfamily Apaturinae (Emperors)

Tribe Apaturini

Genus Asterocampa

Species clyton (Tawny Emperor - Hodges#4562.1)

Hodges Number

4562.1

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval and LeConte)

Orig. Comb: Apatura clyton Boisduval and Leconte [1835]

Explanation of Names

clyto - Greek for 'famous' (1)

Numbers

4 spp. n. of Mex. - MPG

Size

Wingspan 4-7 cm

Identification

Similar to Hackberry Emperor, but rusty-brown above, darker below. Has small irridescent patches instead of eyespots below.

Range

e. of the Rocky Mtns, rare in AZ-NM - Map - MPG

Habitat

Deciduous woodlands, especially riparian woodlands with hostplant.

Season

mostly: May-Nov - monthly records - MPG

Food

Adults take fluid from dung, rotting fruit, carrion. Like the Hackberry Emperor, this butterfly is "friendly", and likes to perch on sweaty humans.

Life Cycle

Larvae feed on Hackberry, Celtis. Males perch in sunny locations to watch for females. Caterpillars overwinter in groups.

Remarks

Usually less common than the Hackberry Emperor, but found in similar habitats.

See Also

Hackberry Emperor, Asterocampa celtis

Print References

Allen (2)

Brock and Kaufman (3)

Glassberg (4)

Scott (5)

Internet References

Butterflies of America - BOA

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.

2.	The Butterflies of West Virginia and Their Caterpillars Thomas J. Allen. 1998. University of Pittsburgh Press.

3.	Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides) Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co.

4.	Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999. Oxford University Press.

5.	The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide James A. Scott. 1992. Stanford University Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 9 March, 2004 - 4:51pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn
Last updated 18 June, 2014 - 9:10am

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