A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Asterocampa celtis
The Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) is a North American butterfly that belongs to the family of brushfooted butterflies, Nymphalidae. The upper side of the wings is mostly gray-brown or orange-brown. The fore wing subterminal area has one or two eyespots, sometimes with blue centers. The underside of the wings is either tan or light gray-brown. The hind wings have a row of black, yellow-ringed, eyespots centered in blue.
The Hackberry Emperor may be seen near woodland edges, near creeks, around buildings, and around damp, muddy spots. Hackberry trees are the only host plants of the Hackberry Emperor. The adults do not visit flowers, but feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and animal carcasses.
Found hiding under the carport ceiling in the late afternoon.
Thank you for the suggestion KarenL. I haven't looked into it but we are around a lot of Hackberry trees here. I have never seen this one so I am anxious to look into it. Thanks for clarifying the difference.
Nice spot nexttogone!
One way to tell butterflies from moths is that butterflies have clubs at the end of their antennae like this one, whereas moths do not.
Spotted on Aug 7, 2012
Submitted on Aug 8, 2012
+2
