The Hackberry Emperor is a species of North American butterfly that is often seen hopping around water bodies, swamps, and city parks/gardens. Strangely, these butterflies are rarely seen visiting flowers, compared to most other butterfly species.

 

“Hackberry Emperor” by Jimmy Smith, licensed under (CC BY- NC-ND 2.0)

 

Hackberry Emperor Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Apaturinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/8 – 2 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Along wooded streams, forest glades and river edges, wooded roadsides, and towns

 

Hackberry Emperor Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Common Hackberry
• Sugarberry
• Alabama Croton
• Prairie Tea

Nectar Plants:

• Tree Sap
• Rotting Fruit