[7], A. celtis visits flowers in an unusual way. White spots near the front of the wing help distinguish it from a similar butterfly, the Tawny Emperor. [3][6], Asterocampa celtis lives wherever the hackberry tree lives. Another notable characteristic is that it rarely is spotted visiting a flower, which is considered unusual for a butterfly. This species can more accurately be described as parasitizing their hosts and plant food sources since they extract nutrients without providing any benefits to the host. This habit suggests that these creatures are not an ineffective pollinator. Furthermore, the hackberry emperor may be seen near woodland edges, near creeks, around buildings, and around damp, muddy areas. [3], Species in the genus Asterocampa are regarded as being "cheater" organisms, since these butterflies do not pollinate flowers when they feed from them. Hackberry Butterfly Side View. and their butterflies are found over about two-thirds of the U.S. This is where the hackberry butterfly, question mark, and snout butterlfy prefer to lay their eggs in Central Arizona. Hackberry is a US and Canada native. There are also white lines going diagonally across the abdomen. [8] They drink from water in puddles. [4], As a member of the family Nymphalidae, the hackberry emperor oviposits its eggs in clutches, or clusters, upon hackberry leaves. The body is a primarily green with whitish-yellow chalazae, or bumps. [2] It gets its name from the hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis and others in the genus Celtis) upon which it lays its eggs. The Hackberry Emperor is a species of North American butterfly that are often seen hopping around water bodies, swamps, and city parks/gardens. [11], The hackberry emperor is not under serious threat. Asterocampa celtis, the hackberry emperor, is a North American butterfly that belongs to the brushfooted butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It can commonly be found across the Midwest and especially along the east coast from Florida up to New England. They seldom make visitations to flowers so nectar is not a primary food source. The stink bug is also a very common predator of hackberry emperor eggs. Strangely, these butterflies are seen visiting flowers rarely, compared to most other butterfly species. Mourning Cloak, Question Mark, Hackberry Emperor, Comma, Snout, and Tawny Emperor butterflies host on this tree. It gets its name from the hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis and others in the genus Celtis) upon which it lays its eggs. Strangely, these butterflies are seen visiting flowers rarely, compared to most other butterfly species. The other strategy is to perch. The hackberry emperor is known for being a quick, mercurial butterfly. Color and Appearance: Their appearance varies dramatically with latitudes. The Hackberry Emperor is a species of North American butterfly that are often seen hopping around water bodies, swamps, and city parks/gardens. Females deposit eggs in masses, and the larvae are gregarious when young, seemingly swarming on leaves in feeding groups. [3][6], Adult hackberry emperors lay two broods in a year. When a male sees movement nearby it will quickly fly out to attempt to mate, but stay within a limited habitat. The pale eggs are laid in clusters of 5-20 eggs on the host plant. Hackberry Emperor Butterfly Chrysalis lh3.ggpht.com. Soil – best in damp to wet but will grow in dry soil Not tolerant of … [10], Male searching behavior in butterflies generally falls into two different strategies. Celtis laevigata Up Close. [3][7], Pupae have a dark green color with white spots all around the body. Hackberry trees (Celtis spp.) Also, they are known to land on humans to lick off their sweat to gain sodium. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The males of the species are smaller with darker bodies and slimmer wings. Your email address will not be published. Average wingspan: 1.38 – 2.48 inches (3.5 – 6.3 cm), White to gray in color, and are laid in clusters on the underside of hackberry leaves, Hackberry Emperor Images static1.squarespace.com, Hackberry Emperor Butterfly butterfliesandmoths.org, Your email address will not be published. In Wisconsin, you’re most … The species is not very deterred by human development. A tachinid fly parasitoid, Chetogena edwardsii, is another common threat to the hackberry emperor. [3][6], A. celtis usually lays eggs in clusters on the underside of hackberry leaves, although it has been observed to occasionally lay eggs on the top of a leaf. There are a few plausible evolutionary reasons for this behavior, but the exact cause for this species' behavior is contentious. Hackberry is a host for six different species of butterflies. [3][7], Adults feed on a variety of food sources. They sit perched upon a branch waiting for a female to fly by. Hackberry flower nectar, hackberry sap, feces, dead animals including decaying pigs, snakes, and dogs, and old fruit. [6][10], Scelionid egg parasites antagonize many species of Asterocampa, including the hackberry emperor. Hackberry Butterfly Chrysalis Note how the chrysalis’ texture and coloration almost mirror the Hackberry’s leaf Hackberry Butterfly (Asterocampa Celtis) Host Plants Hackberry Tree (Celtis Occidentalis) Sugarberry Tree When the wings are closed, the patterns look almost similar, except that the hues are much lighter. There are a variety of species of the hackberry line, and A. celtis is not found preferentially on any one kind of hackberry. 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