Tawny Emperor

Notes:

Life History: Males perch on trees in full sun to watch for females. Eggs are laid in large groups of 200-500 on bark or the underside of mature leaves of host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and young ones feed gregariously. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate in groups of about 10 inside a dead curled leaf. Flight: One brood in the north from June-August, two broods in the south from March-November. Caterpillar Hosts: Trees of the elm family including Celtis occidentalis, C. tenuifolia, C. laevigata, C. lindheimeri, and C. reticulata. Adult Food: Tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion. Tawny Emperors almost never visit flowers. Habitat: Densely wooded riparian areas, dry woods, open woods, cities, fencerows, parks. Range: North Dakota south to Texas, east to New England through most of the southeastern states. Isolated populations in Florida, southwest New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona.