# Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) > A medium-sized North American butterfly whose caterpillars eat hackberry trees and adults prefer sap, rotting fruit and puddles rather than flowers. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/hackberry-emperor/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Harmless to people. Adults do not bite or sting. They may land on skin to sip moisture or salts but do not cause injury. No special first aid required. **Pets:** Not toxic to pets. Large numbers of caterpillars could cause minor nuisance if pets eat them, but documented poisonings are not known. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Asterocampa celtis - Also called: Hackberry butterfly - Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) - Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies) - Size: Wingspan about 40-57 mm - Colours: Brown, Tawny orange, Cream, Black - Habitat: Woodland edges, river corridors, parks and any area with hackberry (Celtis) trees - Range: Eastern and central North America: from southern Canada through much of the United States and into parts of Mexico - Active: Spring through fall (usually April to October); adults are diurnal, most active in warm, sunny weather - Lifespan: Adults live for a few weeks; overall lifespan from egg to adult several weeks to a few months depending on number of broods - Effect on plants: Host-specific - Pest: no ## Overview The Hackberry emperor is a common woodland-edge butterfly of eastern North America. Caterpillars develop only on hackberry trees (Celtis spp.), while adults are often seen on tree trunks, mud puddles, sap runs and overripe fruit. Males are territorial and commonly perch on branches or trunks to wait for females. Several broods occur in warm regions each year. ## How to identify it Adults have a compact, rounded wing shape. Upperwings are brown to tawny with white spots near the forewing tip, a single black eyespot on each forewing and a row of small dark eyespots on the hindwings; the underside is paler grey-brown with similar eyespots and mottling that gives a cryptic look when wings are closed. Caterpillars are green with pale yellowish stripes, a forked tail and branched, antler-like horns on the head. - Look for a medium brown/tawny butterfly with small dark eyespots on the wings and a mottled, cryptic underside. - Find them perched on hackberry trunks or leaves; the species is closely tied to Celtis trees. - Adults often feed on sap runs and rotting fruit—observe behavior away from flowers. - Compare wing shape and eyespot pattern with similar emperors (see similar species). ## Lookalikes - **Tawny emperor** (Asterocampa clyton): Tawny emperor is generally more uniformly orange-tawny on the upperwing and lacks some of the pale patches and underside patterning of the Hackberry emperor; range and host plants overlap, so check eyespot placement and wing tone. - **Empress Leilia** (Asterocampa leilia): Creamy emperor (southwestern US) has paler, creamier underwing tones and different eyespot arrangement; geographic range helps separate them. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Females lay single eggs or small clusters on the underside of hackberry leaves near young foliage. - **Larva (caterpillar):** Green caterpillars with pale stripes, a forked tail and antler-like head horns feed on hackberry leaves; they go through several instars, and in autumn partly grown caterpillars overwinter in leaf litter. - **Pupa (chrysalis):** Caterpillars pupate on or near the host plant, forming a chrysalis that is often well camouflaged. - **Adult (butterfly):** Adults emerge, mate and feed on sap, rotting fruit, animal droppings and mud puddles; males establish territories to find females. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Leaves of hackberry trees (Celtis species) - Adults eat: Tree sap, fermented/overripe fruit, animal droppings, carrion, and mineral-rich moisture from mud; they visit flowers only occasionally - Predators of the young: Parasitoid wasps and flies, predatory insects, birds and ants - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, mantids and other insectivorous predators ## Effect on plants and gardens Larvae feed on leaves of hackberry trees (Celtis spp.). Heavy local defoliation is uncommon; these butterflies are not normally a significant pest of ornamental or crop plants. ## Where and when to find it Search hackberry trees for eggs and caterpillars; watch trunks, sap runs and fruiting trees for adults. Adults also gather at muddy patches, puddles and overripe fruit on the ground. - Best time: April to October in much of their range; warm sunny afternoons are best for observing adult activity. - Tips: Look for perching males on tree trunks and branches. Bring a camera with a zoom rather than approaching too closely—the butterflies may fly off if disturbed. ## Fun facts - Males are territorial and will perch on tree trunks or branches to intercept females or chase rivals. - Unlike many butterflies, Hackberry emperors are more attracted to sap, rotting fruit and puddles than to flowers. - Their caterpillars feed only on hackberry trees, making those trees a reliable place to find the species. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do Hackberry emperor butterflies bite? No. Adults do not bite or sting; they may land on skin to sip moisture but are harmless. ### Are Hackberry emperors poisonous or dangerous? No. They are not poisonous or dangerous to people or pets. ### Why is a Hackberry emperor in my house? Adults are attracted to fermenting fruit, sap smells or bright lights and may enter homes through open doors or windows. Removing attractants and closing entry points prevents this. ### How can I get rid of them humanely? Gently capture and release outdoors using a jar and a piece of cardboard or coax them out with an open window. Remove overripe fruit and close gaps around doors and screens to prevent entry. ### Where do Hackberry emperor caterpillars live? On the leaves of hackberry trees (Celtis species). Look on the underside of leaves for eggs and young caterpillars. ### Will they harm my hackberry tree? They feed on hackberry leaves but seldom cause serious long-term damage; outbreaks that defoliate trees are uncommon. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68264), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterocampa_celtis). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.