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Hackberry Emporer Mountain Emperor |
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| Asterocampa celtis celtis (Boisduval & Leconte, 1835) Asterocampa celtis antonia (W. H. Edwards, 1878) |
| Status: Common to abundant resident |
| Flight Period(s): Two broods, normally peaking in mid June and mid August. A third flight is reported in Missouri, and could occur in southern portions of the state. 15 May – 30 September. |
| Range: Found from the New England states west to the Dakotas and south to Florida, Arizona and Mexico. It occurs statewide in Nebraska. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Hackberry trees (Celtis occidentalis). |
| Overwinter: As partially grown larvae. |
| Commentary/Habitat: The Hackberry Emperor is a butterfly inhabiting woodland margins where it is often the most common species found, sometimes numbering in the 100’s. Adults sometimes feed on nectar (smooth sumac is a favorite of the early summer flight) but more commonly frequent sap flows, fermenting fruit, mud, scat and carrion. They are not averse to landing on humans where they can sometimes be observed close up as they imbibe sweat. Subspecies antonia (differentiated by the solid white spot of celtis on the submarinal region of the dorsal forewing being partially ringed by black, and a slightly more yellow hue overall) is found in the portions of the panhandle, while celtis or intergrades of the two are found east of there. |
| Similar Species: The Tawny Emperor lacks a submarginal black spot, has two bars in the distal area and is more golden in appearance while the Hackberry Emperor has the submarginal black spot, the first distal bar is separated into two spots and is tan/brown in color. |