# Tawny Emperor (*Asterocampa clyton*) The Tawny Emperor is a beautiful butterfly with orange and brown wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and can be seen in sunny spots during the summer. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Woodlands ![Tawny Emperor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/TE-dorsal.jpg&width=800) Photo: Greg Hume, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TE-dorsal.jpg) ## Appearance The Tawny Emperor has tawny orange wings with dark brown or black spots and bands, though some are mostly dark brown. Its undersides are patterned to blend perfectly with tree bark, making it unique among many flashier butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Asterocampa ## Interesting facts - Its caterpillars wear a 'crown' of two horn-like spikes on their heads! - Male Tawny Emperors are fiercely territorial, guarding their favorite trees from rivals. - They spend the entire cold winter as tiny caterpillars, tucked away in dormant leaves! - This butterfly prefers feasting on rotting fruit and tree sap, ignoring sweet flower nectar! ## Special abilities - **Bark Blending:** Tawny Emperor has bark-like patterns on its undersides that help it disappear when resting on trees. - **Sap Sipper:** Tawny Emperor can drink sticky tree sap with its long proboscis because it provides important nutrients. - **Caterpillar Crown:** Tawny Emperor caterpillars have two unique horned spikes on their heads that help them look intimidating. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-75 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 47-88 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This butterfly sips tree sap and munches on decaying fruit, not flowers! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat leaves of hackberry trees, while adults feed on tree sap and decaying matter. - **Primary Foods:** tree sap, rotting fruit, animal droppings, carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Common Hackberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hackberry) (*Celtis occidentalis*) — Larvae feed on its leaves. - **Eats:** Sugarberry (*Celtis laevigata*) — Larvae feed exclusively on its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Eats adult butterflies and caterpillars. - **Hunts:** Spined Soldier Bug (*Podisus maculiventris*) — Preys on Tawny Emperor caterpillars. ## 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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 from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tawny 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 Tawny Emperor's wingspan? 50-75 mm ### How big is Tawny Emperor? 25-35 mm ### How long does Tawny Emperor live? 47-88 days ### What does Tawny Emperor eat? This butterfly sips tree sap and munches on decaying fruit, not flowers! ### Where is Tawny Emperor usually found? Woodlands ### How does Tawny Emperor hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Tawny Emperor have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Garland Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garland-hill-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Marked Tree Lock and Siphons](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marked-tree-lock-and-siphons) — Arkansas, US · Historic Site - [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Skylands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skylands) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/klehm-arboretum-and-botanic-garden) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Tawny Emperor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tawny-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: [Tawny Emperor: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-emperor)