Hackberry Emperor Butterfly Images

Hackberry Emperor Butterfly Images, Facts and Information:

Asterocampa celtis

• Hackberry Emperor butterflies feature distinct reddish-brown upper wings adorned with white spots and black areas. The forewings have a prominent dark eyespot near the apex and several smaller white spots. The hindwings display a series of black dots near the margins. Their underwings are a muted brown with fine lines and patterns, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. Males and females look similar, but females are slightly larger.
• Hackberry Emperor butterflies are found in the eastern United States, from Florida to New York, west to Texas and North Dakota. They are also found in parts of Mexico and Central America.
• Hackberry Emperor butterflies prefer deciduous woodlands, forest edges, parks, and urban areas where their host plant, the hackberry tree, is present.
• Hackberry Emperor butterflies feed on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and carrion. Adults rarely visit flowers for nectar.
• Hackberry Emperor butterflies lay single eggs on the leaves of hackberry trees. Caterpillars develop through 5 instars over about 4 weeks. They have two to three broods per year in most areas.
• A group of butterflies can be called a “kaleidoscope”, “flutter”, “swarm”, or “rabble” of butterflies.
• The lifespan of an adult Hackberry Emperor butterfly is typically 2 to 3 weeks.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Hackberry Emperor butterfly photos.