#hackberry emperor

[highways-are-liminal-spaces]

Montrose Point, Chicago in the early Autumn

Taken September 2025

[northerlyy]

Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), taken June 15, 2026, in Georgia, US

A butterfly resting calmly on a leaf in the sun, using its mottled underwings to blend nicely into the dirt backdrop! This individual was in the perfect place for a butterfly: a sunny, flower-filled clearing with plenty of water and few predators. This species of butterfly enjoys small flower clusters, of which there were many here, so it's no surprise it was fluttering around. It was joined by lots of skippers and mason bees, all swarming the abundant flowers and enjoying the clear air!

[stopandlook]

Scientific Name: Asterocampa celtis Common Name(s): Hackberry emperor Family: Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterfly) Life Stage(s): Adult Location: Plano, Texas Season(s): Spring

Ventral wing pattern. See dorsal view here.

[thefoxstone]

Hackberry Emperor. Illinois, United States. (2025)

[blattodean]

hackberry emperor? im not very familiar with butterflies

[ichneumoniid]

Potato chip

(Asterocampa celtis)

[mars-0326]

Rip little guy. Victim of the hurricane rains.

[speakingofnature]

Hackberry Emperor

A population explosion of the Hackberry Emperor is currently underway in Iowa. Thousands of these mid-sized butterflies can be found along the edges of woodlands and streams. This one was extracting moisture and minerals from the sandy soil along the Cedar River.