Egg: Tiny, creamy white globes laid singly or in very small clusters on host leaves. * This means that Life cycle information is now on the BugGuide 'Info' page for this species. Family Hesperiidae - Skippers. Hackberry Emperor is found along woodland trails, edges and roads, as well as old fields, where its host tree is present. Its skin is rough in … Life Cycle: Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Seed Stem Cutting Wildlife Value: This plant supports Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) larvae. Photo by and courtesy of Ranger Robb Hannawacker. Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches (3.5 - 6.3 cm). Hackberry Butterfly Eggs. Hackberry Emperor Butterfly. There is a pair of short tails on the rear. The Hackberry Emperor can often be found in woodlands, city parks and gardens. About every five years, we are blessed with huge eruptions of Hackberry Emperors. carrion or decomposing fruit on the forest floor. Females typically remain higher in trees. Wing spread: 1.5" - 2.5" Host Plants: Hackberries. Life Cycle and Biology There is a single generation in the northern United States (Opler and Krizek 1984, Opler et al. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com. The upperside is reddish brown. Sexes are similarly marked, but females have broader wings. Tortoise Beetle LARVAE carry some of their excrement on their backs, probably to both hide from and deter enemies. Host trees chosen are typically mature trees in groves (Friedlander, 1987). Hackberry Emperors often hitchhike on sweaty arms or perspiration-soaked clothing. They are broad crowned and often have an erratic shape. Click on individual photos to view a larger version that includes photo credits, county, and date. Asterocampa celtis. Upperside is reddish brown. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly. Life Cycle: Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Seed Stem Cutting Wildlife Value: This plant supports Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) larvae. Life Cycle: Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Seed Country Or Region Of Origin: Central & E. Canada to N. & E. U.S.A Wildlife Value: This plant supports Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) larvae. Hackberry Butterfly Dorsal View. The hackberry emperor, is a North American butterfly that belongs to the brushfooted butterfly family, Nymphalidae. The tawny emperor, Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & LeConte), is a medium sized, rather non-descript butterfly that is particularly common in riparian forests, but is also found in dry woods and suburbs (Opler et al. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period. 4 to 6 weeks. Strangely, these butterflies are seen visiting flowers rarely, compared to most other butterfly species. A nest of Paper Wasps (Polistes major) showing all stages of its life cycle. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Hackberry Emperor caterpillar eggs are laid in small groups ranging from one to twenty. Hackberry Butterfly Side View. These trees can grow up to the height of 60 feet and have a spread of around the same. The female butterfly deposits the eggs, often in large numbers, on or near a suitable host plant. The larvae are gregarious at first but disperse and become solitary in later instars. Lucky for me it decided to take a break on my arm. In late fall, half-grown caterpillars turn brown and group together inside curled hackberry leaves. They are fairly rare in the mountains and coastal plain. The warm weather of the southern U.S. and Mexico allows the Hackberry Emperor butterfly to … They are widespread in Alabama, and it is expected that they will eventually be documented in every county in the state. View Hackberry Emperor butterflies, caterpillars, pupa, chrysalis and life cycle pictures. For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above. Lifecycle The eggs are pale green, and are laid either singly or in clusters of up to 20 on the lower surface of leaves of Celtis ( Ulmaceae ) or sometimes on the twigs or bark. Hackberry Emperor making a short stop to get some moisture and salt from my skin. 6 to 14 days. Here is the life cycle of the hackberry emperor butterfly. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred. ... Life Cycle and Biology. Parks and yards. The eggs are pale green, and are laid either singly or in clusters
Females nectar at flowers including Eupatorium. LARVA: Similar to Hackberry Emperor, but with branched horns on the head. whole or published elsewhere without prior written consent of Adrian
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Hackberry Emperor Butterfly. HW with row of black spots inward from margin. If you've seen hackberry trees, you'll know that it can make any landscape look beautiful, not just because of their deep emerald foliage and their pearl white flowers that invite butterflies towards them, but also due to the crimson fruits beckoning birds in their cool shelter. The hackberry tree is the only host plant for A. celtis and is the food source for larvae. 2000). University of South Florida, Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA). It ranges from southern Canada through the eastern United States and cerntral plains areas. The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Hackberry Emperor Butterfly may be found (but is not limited to). Various hackberries (Celtis spp.) Life Cycle: Egg: Cream-yellow, laid singly on the underside of host leaves Mature larva: Light green with numerous tiny yellow spots, yellow longitudinal stripes, and two short tails. Sightings in the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston, View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names.