Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis
Photo by Becka Hernz from Pixabay
Summary
As the name suggests, hackberry trees (genus Celtis) are the host plants for the larvae of this ‘friendly’ species. The adults seldom visit flowers, but prefer to absorb nutrients from tree sap, rotting fruit, carrion, animal droppings, and damp sand or muddy ground. One of several butterflies that are attracted to the sodium in human sweat, they often alight on tasty humans! They can be distinguished from their close cousin, the tawny emperor, by the white dots and eyespots on top of their upper wings.
While adults fly from May-October, larvae burrow underground in order to metamorphose into adults. In the fall, groups of half-grown caterpillars attach themselves to rolled dead leaves and spend the winter sheltered in leaf litter. Just another good reason to ‘leave the leaves’ in fall!
More Details
FAMILY
Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)
IDENTIFICATION
Wingspan 1.38 -2.48 inches; Tan to reddish-brown coloration, showcasing a unique pattern of eyespots, white jaggy spots, and black bars across the forewings.
HABITAT
Open woodlands, floodplains, and parks
LIFE CYCLE
Eggs are white to gray, laid in clusters on the underside of hackberry leaves. Caterpillar notable for its bright green body, adorned with pale yellow bumps and projections that look like horns. Overwinters as partially grown larva. Secured under hackberry leaves, the pupa emerges as an adult butterfly in early summer.
HOST PLANTS
Common Hackberry Tree (Celtis occidentalis)
Ecosystem Connections
The caterpillars are herbivores that graze on hackberry leaves, and all stages provide food for predators. The larvae, hibernating on the ground in their rolled-up leaves, undoubtedly feed many hungry birds and mammals throughout the winter.