136 Records

Like its relative, the Hackberry Emperor, the Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) is closely tied to the presence of hackberry trees. This butterfly, like its relative, prefers sap or rotting fruit to flowers, and also habitually perches high up on tree trunks and other vertical surfaces. They are territorial and will chase away other butterflies from their airspace. This species has two broods, one flying in June and July, and another in mid-August to mid-September (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith).

Similar to Hackberry Emperor, with dark veins and pale spots on the wings. May be distinguished from Hackberry by noting the absence of submarginal eyespots on the forewing (Hackberry has one or two), and by the two solid bars within cell of forewing (Hackberry shows one broken bar).

This species uses Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) and Dwarf Hackberry (C. tenuifolia) as larval hosts.