Lepidoptera: Family Family Nymphalidae Subfamily Apaturinae (Emperors) Next: Page 6

Asterocampa celtis Hackberry Emperor. Hosts: Various hackberries (Celtis) and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata). Hackberry Butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner, and rest upside down on tree trunks. Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid in clusters, and the young caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves. Light green to dark green chrysalis has two horns and a sharp keel. Late season caterpillars turn brown before overwintering. In the spring they regain their green color and continue growing before pupating. Adults pictured are female ups and und. The eggs darken as the caterpillars inside mature.

Satyrodes clyton Tawny Emperor. Hosts: Elm family: Celtis occidentalis, C. tenuifolia, C. laevigata, C. lindheimeri, C. reticulata. Caterpillar head adorned with "crown of thorns". Dorsum and often sides with yellow or white stripes. Body often zigzagged at rest. In A. celtis, dorsal striping often inconspicuous to absent (eastern populations); and body often straight at rest. Adults feed on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion; almost never visit flowers. Eggs are laid in large groups of 200-500 on bark or the underside of mature leaves of host plants. Young caterpillars feed gregariously. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate in groups of about 10 inside a dead curled leaf. Adults pictured are female ups and und. Female broader, larger, more rounded and paler than male, which has wings concavely curved and drawn out. Larger and brighter than A. celtis.