Asterocampa clyton

Distinguished from the hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) by: (1) absence of white spots near the tip of the forewing, (2) absence of a black eyespot lower along the edge of the forewing. The tawny emperor has orange-brown forewings with pale orange-yellow spots, while the hackberry emperor shows more contrasting white spotting. Dark morph individuals may be confused with other dark butterflies but retain the characteristic forewing pattern when viewed closely.

Wingspan 51–66 mm (2.0–2.6 in). Upperside predominantly dark brown; forewing orange-brown with pale orange-yellow spots. Underside gray-brown with black and pale yellowish markings on forewing. Dark morph regionally common with nearly uniformly dark hindwings. Distinguished from Asterocampa celtis (hackberry emperor) by absence of white spots near forewing tip and absence of black eyespot lower along forewing edge.

Found near houses, gravel driveways, water sources, muddy areas, gardens, and woodlands. Strongly associated with hackberry trees (Celtis spp.), the sole larval host plant. Adults congregate at sap flows on trees, particularly on stressed or diseased hardwoods.

Native to North America, primarily the eastern half from Canada to northern Mexico. Eastern United States and southeastern Canada, extending westward into the Great Plains and south into Mexico.

Adults feed on carrion, plant sap, and dung. Rarely observed visiting flowers. Larvae feed exclusively on hackberry (Celtis spp.) leaves.

• Celtis - larval host plantsole host; eggs laid on leaves, larvae feed on foliage

Female lays clusters of green eggs on hackberry leaves. Larva is green with yellow, white, or greenish stripes. Pupation details not specified in available sources. Multiple generations per year in southern portions of range, fewer in north.

Adults frequently congregate at sap flows on tree trunks, often in mixed-species aggregations with beetles, flies, and other butterflies. Adults are not skittish when feeding at sap flows and reluctant to leave. Males perch and patrol for females. Adults are strong fliers.

Larval herbivore on hackberry trees. Adult serves as a non-pollinating visitor to sap flows, contributing to nutrient cycling through carrion and dung feeding. Eggs subject to parasitism by surface-parasitizing parasitoids; egg mass design may represent defensive adaptation.

Occasional visitor to gardens and residential areas. Not an agricultural pest. Sometimes attracted to gravel driveways and muddy areas near human habitation. Of interest to butterfly watchers and photographers.

• Asterocampa celtisHackberry emperor; distinguished by white spots near forewing tip and black eyespot lower along forewing edge, which A. clyton lacks

• butterfly
• brush-footed butterfly
• sap feeder
• hackberry specialist
• eastern North America

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Mutillidae | Beetles In The Bush
• December | 2013 | Beetles In The Bush | Page 2
• Lepidoptera | Beetles In The Bush | Page 6
• flies | Beetles In The Bush | Page 3
• Egg mass design relative to surface-parasitizing parasitoids, with notes on Asterocampa clyton (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)