Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & Leconte, [1835])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Geographically variable. Upperside is chestnut brown; forewing with 2 brown bars in the cell, no white spots, and no eyespots near the outer margin. Hindwing uppersides are orange with black submarginal spots in one form, and all black in the other form.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 3/4 inches (4.2 - 7 cm).
Life History: Males perch on trees in full sun to watch for females. Eggs are laid in large groups of 200-500 on bark or the underside of mature leaves of host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and young ones feed gregariously. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate in groups of about 10 inside a dead curled leaf.
Flight: One brood in the north from June-August, two broods in the south from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Trees of the elm family including Celtis occidentalis, C. tenuifolia, C. laevigata, C. lindheimeri, and C. reticulata.
Adult Food: Tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, carrion. Tawny Emperors almost never visit flowers.
Habitat: Densely wooded riparian areas, dry woods, open woods, cities, fencerows, parks.
Range: North Dakota south to Texas, east to New England through most of the southeastern states. Isolated populations in Florida, southwest New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually of ocnservation concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 2055 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 08, 2017
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 14, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: Apr 04, 2024
Submitted by: MECobarruvias
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Polk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 21, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 24, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: ashatteredsoulgone
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Feb 24, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: James McKinney
Region: Texas, Taylor County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Rphelan1985
Region: Hickman County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2008
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2023
Observation date: May 13, 2023
Submitted by: cskramer
Region: Texas, Rockwall County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 14, 2023
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