Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 54,104 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Hackberry Emperor: observations by month (U.S.)
About Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis, the hackberry emperor, is a North American butterfly that belongs to the brushfooted butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It gets its name from the hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis and others in the genus Celtis) upon which it lays its eggs. The hackberry tree is the only host plant for A. celtis and is the food source for larvae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Hackberry Emperor by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 18,284 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Tennessee | 3,309 | August | May–Sep |
| Ohio | 3,225 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 3,002 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 2,878 | September | May–Sep |
| Missouri | 2,442 | August | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 1,923 | September | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 1,889 | September | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 1,792 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 1,510 | August | May–Sep |
| North Carolina | 1,442 | September | May–Sep |
| Indiana | 1,276 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Kansas | 1,205 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Georgia | 1,070 | September | May–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 1,044 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Minnesota | 1,017 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 772 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 725 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 699 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 642 | June | May–Oct |
| Nebraska | 571 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 529 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Mississippi | 486 | August | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 443 | July | May–Sep |
| Arizona | 335 | September | May–Oct |
| Michigan | 303 | August | Jun–Aug |
| New York | 300 | August | Jun–Sep |
| West Virginia | 244 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Jersey | 169 | August | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 145 | July | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 131 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 127 | June | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 75 | August | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 37 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Utah | 15 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Connecticut | 14 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 13 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Dakota | 9 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Delaware | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hackberry Emperor?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Hackberry Emperor most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Tennessee, Ohio.