Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 24,526 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
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 Tawny Emperor: observations by month (U.S.)
About Tawny Emperor
Asterocampa clyton, the tawny emperor, is a species of brush-footed butterfly. It is native to North America, especially the eastern half from Canada to northern Mexico. The tawny emperor should not be mistaken for a very similar Asterocampa butterfly, the hackberry emperor, which can be distinguished by the whiteFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Tawny Emperor by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 15,562 | October | Apr–Oct |
| Tennessee | 1,026 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 927 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Ohio | 627 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 541 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Florida | 536 | July | Apr–Sep |
| North Carolina | 517 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 496 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 485 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Illinois | 372 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 345 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Alabama | 302 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 276 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 263 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 254 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 249 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 239 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 226 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Michigan | 220 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New York | 200 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arizona | 155 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 155 | September | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 107 | June | Jun–Sep |
| South Carolina | 106 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 90 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 60 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 58 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Vermont | 39 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 27 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 19 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Delaware | 16 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 8 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 6 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Connecticut | 5 | August | Jul–Sep |
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 Tawny Emperor?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Tawny Emperor most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Tennessee, Virginia.