hackberry emporer
Asterocampa celtis
Identification: Wingspan 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches. Extremely variable geographically. Upperside is reddish brown. Forewing has 1 submarginal eyespot, a jagged row of white spots, and the cell has 1 solid black bar and 2 separate black spots.
Habitat: Along wooded streams, forest glades and river edges, wooded roadsides, towns.
Garden Habit: Hackberry Butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner, and rest upside down on tree trunks. Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid in clusters, and the young caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves.
Host Plants: large tree: hackberry.
Identification: Wingspan 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches. Extremely variable geographically. Upperside is reddish brown. Forewing has 1 submarginal eyespot, a jagged row of white spots, and the cell has 1 solid black bar and 2 separate black spots.
Habitat: Along wooded streams, forest glades and river edges, wooded roadsides, towns.
Garden Habit: Hackberry Butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner, and rest upside down on tree trunks. Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid in clusters, and the young caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves.
Host Plants: large tree: hackberry.