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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.
These are found at the base crevice of two Hackberry Trees fused together. I have no idea how many Hackberry Emperors where in there but they liked something in it. I'm thinking that it was tree sap.
Spotted on Oct 13, 2012
Submitted on Oct 13, 2012
2 Comments
Thank you, Louisiana Belle. I did find out today that they were after tree sap.
Very nice catch!