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