# Hackberry Emperor (*Asterocampa celtis*) The Hackberry Emperor is a beautiful butterfly with orange and brown wings. It loves to flutter around in sunny spots and can often be seen resting on tree trunks. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 76 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Hackberry Butterfly ![Hackberry Emperor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hackberry_Emperor%252C_Megan_McCarty46.jpg&width=800) Photo: Meganmccarty, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hackberry_Emperor%252C_Megan_McCarty46.jpg) ## Appearance The Hackberry Emperor is a medium-sized butterfly, featuring mottled gray-brown or brownish-orange wings with a few small, pale spots and dark markings. Its underside is cryptically patterned, allowing it to blend seamlessly with tree bark, particularly the hackberry tree. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Asterocampa ## Interesting facts - Adult Hackberry Emperors almost never drink nectar from flowers. - Their caterpillars wear a "head crown" with two tiny, branched horns. - These butterflies love to land on people, tasting their skin with their feet! - They often "dance" together in the air, especially in the afternoon sun! ## Special abilities - **Tree Trunk Master:** Hackberry Emperor has mottled gray-brown wings that help them perfectly camouflage on tree trunks, making them very hard to spot. - **Unusual Drinker:** Hackberry Emperor can sip on tree sap, rotting fruit, or even animal droppings because of its specialized proboscis, helping them get nutrients. - **Antennae Scanner:** Hackberry Emperor can use its clubbed antennae to detect host plants and find suitable mates, helping them navigate their world. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-65 mm - **Size:** 20-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-20 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch hackberry leaves; adults prefer tree sap, rotting fruit, and other liquids. - **Age differences:** Larvae are herbivorous, feeding on hackberry leaves. Adults are saprophagous/scavengers, drinking tree sap, rotting fruit, and animal waste. - **Primary Foods:** Hackberry Leaves, Tree Sap, Rotting Fruit, Animal Droppings, Aphid Honeydew - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Hackberry Tree (*Celtis occidentalis*) — Caterpillars eat its leaves; adults feed on its sap and perch. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Blue Jays prey on caterpillars and adult butterflies. - **Parasitizes:** Tobacco Hornworm Wasp (*Cotesia congregata*) — Parasitic wasps lay eggs on caterpillars, consuming them from within. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opossums can consume larvae and pupae when foraging. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle creatures, but it's best to watch them without touching. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hackberry Emperor? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Hackberry Emperor's wingspan? 45-65 mm ### How big is Hackberry Emperor? 20-30 mm ### How long does Hackberry Emperor live? 15-20 days ### What does Hackberry Emperor eat? Caterpillars munch hackberry leaves; adults prefer tree sap, rotting fruit, and other liquids. ### Where is Hackberry Emperor usually found? Forests ### How does Hackberry Emperor hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Hackberry Emperor have? 6 ## Where to spot - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District [View all places to see Hackberry Emperor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hackberry-emperor) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Hackberry Emperor: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hackberry-emperor)