Species Asterocampa celtis - Hackberry Emperor - Hodges#4557

4557

Hackberry Butterfly

Asterocampa celtis (Boisduval & Le Conte)

Orig. Comb: Apatura celtis (Boisduval & Le Conte, [1835]

Celtis is the genus for Hackberry, the butterfly's host plant

Wingspan 3.5-6.3 cm

Brown with distinctive spots on hindwings and front wings. Separable from other Asterocampa species by the combination of the following traits. On the front wing there are one to three rounded eye spots near the outer margin (none or rarely a faint trace of one in A. clyton), and the dark bar crossing the middle of the discal cell is divided into two slightly offset spots (not divided either A. clyton or A. leilia.

Subspecies are easiest to identify by where found, but there are differences in markings of both adults and of caterpillars between them. Where two subspecies meet, there is often a large area where ill-defined intermediate individuals occur (for example from Texas and northward across the Great Plains, there is a broad area where specimens are intermediate between, and combine characteristics of both subspecies antonia and celtis).

From se. California to w. North Dakota, eastward to the Atlantic, and south into northern Mexico. In Canada apparently recorded only from southern Ontario and Quebec, but should also be watched for in s. Manitoba.

Deciduous woodlands with hostplant, Hackberry (Celtis)

May-October, two flights

Adults take sap, fluids from dung, carrion, etc. Like the Tawny Emperor, very fond of taking sweat from humans.

Larvae feed on Hackberry, Celtis species.

Subtly beautiful. Usually more common than the Tawny Emperor.

Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton

Allen (1)

Brock and Kaufman (2)

Glassberg (3)

Scott (4)

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

BAMONA