Asterocampa clyton texana
(Skinner, 1911)
Texan Emperor, Texas Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton texana is a of the tawny emperor , commonly known as the Texan Emperor. It is a medium-sized in the Nymphalidae. have been observed feeding on fermenting tree sap flows, where they aggregate with other insects including scarab beetles. The subspecies occurs in the south-central United States, with records from Texas and Oklahoma.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Asterocampa clyton texana: //ˌæstəroʊˈkæmpə ˈklaɪtən tɛkˈsænə//
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Distribution
South-central United States, including Texas and Oklahoma. GBIF records indicate presence in Vermont, though this may represent vagrant or misidentified specimens.
Diet
feed on fermenting tree sap, not flower nectar. Larvae likely feed on hackberry (Celtis spp.) like the nominate , though specific plant records for texana are not documented in the provided sources.
Behavior
exhibit sap-feeding , aggregating at tree sap flows with other insects. At one documented site in Oklahoma, multiple individuals were observed covering scarab beetles (Cotinis nitida and Euphoria inda) at a sap flow on pin oak (Quercus palustris). The butterflies were not skittish and reluctant to leave the sap source.
Similar Taxa
- Asterocampa clyton clytonNominate ; range and subtle morphological differences separate it from texana
- Asterocampa celtisHackberry emperor, a closely related with similar appearance and