hackberry emperor | skymeadows

hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

FAMILY: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
SUBFAMILY: Emperors (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.

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.

WING SPAN: 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches (3.5 - 6.3 cm).

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.

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally,
though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS: None reported.

SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:

Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from

year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more

categories and may vary even during a single season.

Key to Checklist

A   Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
C   Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
U   Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
      usually in low numbers.
O   Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
      in low numbers.
R   Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
      year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X   Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.