Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)...

            Hackberry Emperor butterflies fly in a fast and erratic manner much like skippers, and quite often rest upside down on tree trunks or branches as seen in these photos. Males typically perch high above the ground in sunny areas to watch for females. 

At 1 3/8 - 2 1/2 inches (3.5 - 6.3 cm) the Hackberry is a medium size butterfly, although size varies considerably between different individuals. Coloration and markings are extremely variable geographically. Upperside is typically reddish brown while the underside of the wings tends to be more grayish. 

The Hackberry Emperor ranges in most of the eastern United States, central Plains States, and the southwest mountains including northern Mexico. It is found where Hackberry trees grow. Their host plant is Hackberry or Sugarberry trees. Hackberry trees are found in most of the United States except for the upper Northwest, Maine, and New Hampshire. Hackberry and Sugarberry trees are also common landscape plants. 

Habitat includes wooded streams, forest glades, river edges, wooded roadsides and residential areas.

Adult butterflies typically feed on tree sap, carrion, dung, and rotting fruit, but will feed on flowers for nectar (although rarely) and take moisture at wet spots along roads and streams. It's common for a Hackberry to land on you while photographing them. They are attracted to the salts in your sweat, which allows you a good opportunity to get a close look at them. 

In late fall, Hackberry caterpillars make a nest by sewing hackberry leaves together and to the tree. They move into the nest and slowly, over weeks, turn from green to brown. As the trees drop the leaves for the winter, the hibernaculums (i.e. winter nests) stay on the tree. The caterpillars stay in their hibernaculums until fresh leaves grow in the spring. Then they crawl out of their nests and continue to eat and grow. Overwintering in this way is called 'diapause'. 

ISO1600, aperture f/8, exposure .003 seconds (1/320) focal length 450mm

Taken on: July 28, 2019

Tags:

Hackberry Emperor

Asterocampa celtis

butterfly

insect

wildlife

nature

fauna

telephoto

pentax

K-3 « less

Sets appears in: • Butterflies 2019...

Camera: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3, f/8.0, 1/320 sec, 450mm (=675mm), ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	450mm (35mm equivalent: 675mm)
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PENTAX K-3 Ver. 1.00
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