Tawny Emperor: All You Need to Know in a Nutshell

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The Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) is a fascinating butterfly species that you might encounter in various regions across the United States. They are known for their unique rust-colored wings and interesting life cycle. As you explore this species, you’ll uncover why they are a popular sight for butterfly enthusiasts everywhere.

Their preferred habitats include cities, densely wooded areas, dry woods, fencerows, open woods, and parks. They are commonly found from southern New England to Florida, and west to North Dakota and southern Arizona. The Tawny Emperor has distinguishing features such as chestnut brown coloring on the upperside of their wings, with two brown bars and no white spots. If you’re lucky enough to come across this butterfly, you may notice their remarkable appearance.

One important aspect of the Tawny Emperor’s life cycle is its relationship with its host plants, like the hackberry tree. They rely on the leaves and sap of these tree species for their survival as caterpillars. In turn, adult Tawny Emperors feed on a variety of sources, such as carrion, dung, rotting fruit, and tree sap, unlike some other butterfly species that primarily visit flowers.

Identification of Tawny Emperor

Appearance and Size

The Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) is a medium-sized butterfly with a wing span of 1¾ – 2¾ inches (4.2 – 7 cm). To identify this butterfly, you need to look for some specific features:

  • The upperside of the wings is chestnut brown
  • The forewing has two brown bars, and no white spots
  • There are no eyespots near the outer margin
  • The hindwing uppersides are orange with black spots1

These characteristics make it easier to distinguish the Tawny Emperor from some similar species, such as the Hackberry Emperor, which has a more tan color and different markings2.

Abundance and Locations

Tawny Emperors can be found from southern New England to Florida, and west to North Dakota and southern Arizona3. They are more common in northern and central Florida due to the presence of their host plants, but they are less abundant in southern Florida3.

Their preferred habitat includes:

  • Deciduous woodlands that support hackberry trees
  • Dry woods
  • Fencerows
  • Open woods
  • Parks4

Keep in mind, Tawny Emperors are usually found in the company of Hackberry Emperors, but they tend to be less common. Their flight occurs from spring through fall5.

Scientific Classification

Taxonomy and Scientific Name

The Tawny Emperor butterfly belongs to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera, family Nymphalidae, genus Asterocampa, and species Asterocampa clyton. You might also come across another related species, Asterocampa celtis, which is known as the Hackberry Emperor butterfly. Both butterflies are quite similar, but the Tawny Emperor is generally more orangish-brown in color.

Some features of the Tawny Emperor that may help you recognize it include:

  • Orange and brown coloration
  • Mottled brown pattern on the underside of the wings
  • Small eyespots on the lower wings
  • Distinctive wing shape with a slightly jagged edge

When observing Tawny Emperors, you’ll often find them basking in the sunlight or feeding on tree sap, rotting fruit, and other sources of nutrients. Keep in mind that they’re not frequent visitors to flowers, so you’re more likely to spot them around trees and wooded areas.

In summary, understanding the scientific classification of the Tawny Emperor butterfly can enhance your knowledge and appreciation for this majestic creature. Keep an eye out for this fascinating insect while exploring natural habitats and observe their unique behavior and captivating appearance.

Life Cycle of Tawny Emperor

Stages from Larvae to Adult

The life cycle of the Tawny Emperor butterfly (Asterocampa clyton) comprises four main stages: eggs, larvae (caterpillars), pupae, and adults. Here’s a brief overview of each stage:

Eggs: The Tawny Emperor butterfly starts its life as a small, green egg, usually laid on the host plants, such as hackberry trees. These eggs are the beginning of the fascinating journey to become a beautiful butterfly.

Larvae (Caterpillars): After hatching, the larvae emerge as caterpillars, which begin feeding on the leaves of their host plants. During this stage, they focus on eating and growing. The caterpillars will molt several times, shedding their old skin to accommodate their increasing size.

Pupae: Once the caterpillars have reached a certain size, they will enter the pupal stage. During this time, they form a protective shell called a chrysalis, where they undergo a transformation into their adult form. This process is known as metamorphosis.

Adults: When the transformation is complete, the adult Tawny Emperor butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. The fully-grown butterfly has a wingspan of 1.6 to 2.75 inches and a chestnut brown color, easily distinguishable by the two brown bars on its forewing.

Remember, the number of generations per year for the Tawny Emperor varies depending on location. In the northern United States, there is usually just one generation, whereas in areas like Florida and southern Louisiana, you can expect up to three generations.

And there you have it! The life cycle of the Tawny Emperor butterfly is a fascinating journey from a small egg to a stunning adult. By understanding this process, you can better appreciate these beautiful creatures and their place in nature.

Habitat and Distribution

Resident Locations and Sightings

The Tawny Emperor butterfly (Asterocampa clyton) can be found across a wide range in North America, particularly in the eastern United States. Its distribution stretches from southern New England down to Florida, and westward to North Dakota and southern Arizona1.

These butterflies prefer diverse habitats such as woodlands, parks, and even residential yards. In Texas, for example, it is common to spot Tawny Emperors in county parks or resting among your garden plants. They tend to reside in areas with their host plant, the hackberry tree, which is essential for their larval feeding and growth2.

In the northern regions, such as Washington, sightings of this butterfly species may be less frequent. However, with the appropriate host plants present, Tawny Emperors could potentially increase their territory further north.

To increase your likelihood of encountering a Tawny Emperor in your area, consider planting hackberry trees in your yard or checking nearby parks and woodlands with abundant hackberry trees. Remember to stay patient and keep your eyes peeled for their distinct chestnut brown coloring with no white spots3.

Feeding Preferences

Food Plants and Other Sources

The Tawny Emperor, a butterfly species closely related to the Hackberry Emperor, primarily feeds on Hackberry trees as caterpillars. The caterpillars of both Emperors share some similar food sources:

  • Hackberries: As their main food plants, both the Tawny Emperor and Hackberry Emperor caterpillars feed on the leaves of hackberry trees.

As Tawny Emperor butterflies, their feeding preferences slightly change compared to their caterpillar stage. For example, they do not feed on nectar from flowers like many other butterflies. Instead, they are attracted to:

  • Sap: The sap from trees serves as a primary food source for adult Tawny Emperors.
  • Dung: An unusual dietary choice, but Tawny Emperor butterflies may also feed on dung for nutrients.
  • Carrion: They might occasionally feed on carrion, which provides essential minerals and nutrients.
  • Berries: Tawny Emperors could also be found on overripe berries.

Comparing Tawny Emperor and Hackberry Emperor feeding preferences:

Food Source Tawny Emperor Hackberry Emperor
Hackberry Trees Preferred as caterpillar Preferred as caterpillar
Sap Yes Yes
Dung Yes Yes
Carrion Occasional Occasional
Berries Occasional Rare
Nectar Not Preferred Preferred

In summary, as caterpillars, the Tawny Emperor and Hackberry Emperor feed primarily on hackberry trees. As adult butterflies, the Tawny Emperor does not prefer nectar, which sets them apart from many other butterfly species, including the Hackberry Emperor. Instead, they opt for tree sap, dung, and other alternative food sources. Knowing these feeding preferences can help you identify and understand the Tawny Emperor’s behavior in its natural habitat.

Behavior and Adaptations

The Tawny Emperor is known for its unique behavior and adaptations that have evolved to enhance its survival in its natural habitat. Let’s explore some key aspects of this fascinating butterfly.

The Tawny Emperor has a distinctive way of moving about due to its long, slender tails. These tails serve as a decoy, drawing the attention of predators away from the butterfly’s vital head area. As a result, the Tawny Emperor can escape danger with minimal damage.

Their remarkable ability to blend into their surroundings is another remarkable adaptation. The butterfly’s wing patterns and colors provide excellent camouflage, ensuring they are not easily spotted by predators.

The Tawny Emperor is quite particular when it comes to their host plants. They rely on hackberry trees as exclusive host plants, where they lay their eggs and the caterpillars feed on the leaves to grow.

Some interesting characteristics of the Tawny Emperor include:

  • Slender tails
  • Camouflaging wing patterns
  • Preference for hackberry trees as host plants

To further understand their behavior, let’s look at a comparison table of their active behaviors and the seasonality of these behaviors:

Behavior Active Time Season
Mating Morning, Afternoon Spring, Summer
Feeding Morning, Afternoon Spring, Summer, Fall
Egg-laying Morning, Afternoon Spring, Summer

In conclusion, the Tawny Emperor’s unique behaviors and adaptations make it a fascinating creature to study. From their slender tails to their strong preference for hackberry trees, these butterflies have evolved to thrive in their environment. So next time you come across a Tawny Emperor, take a moment to appreciate its incredible adaptations and behaviors.

Footnotes

  1. Tawny Emperor – Alabama Butterfly Atlas 2
  2. Tawny Emperor | Missouri Department of Conservation 2
  3. Tawny Emperor Butterfly – Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & LeConte) 2 3
  4. Tawny Emperor | Department of Horticulture – University of Kentucky
  5. PDF Tawny Emperor ID Slides – University of South Florida

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authors

  • Bugman

    Bugman aka Daniel Marlos has been identifying bugs since 1999. whatsthatbug.com is his passion project and it has helped millions of readers identify the bug that has been bugging them for over two decades. You can reach out to him through our Contact Page.

    View all posts
  • Piyushi is a nature lover, blogger and traveler at heart. She lives in beautiful Canada with her family. Piyushi is an animal lover and loves to write about all creatures.

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Tags: Tawny Emperors

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4 Comments. Leave new

  • Thank you, Daniel!
    These butterflies are so quiet and intent on feeding and sunning that I’m able to get within inches of them with a shorter lens on the camera.
    The Emperors are new to me, but I suspect that I just haven’t been observant.
    I tried looking on the Internet, but have been unable to find information on whether or not we have record numbers of Emperors this year.
    We’ve had some life-giving rains and milder-than-usual temperatures this summer and fall, and our area is unusually green and lush this October. Perhaps we have a bumper crop of Emperors as a consequence.
    I’ll watch for the Emperors in the future to see if we have them each year.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Thanks for the additional information Ellen. Sometimes populations of insects fluctuate from year to year.

      Reply
  • Thank you, Daniel!
    These butterflies are so quiet and intent on feeding and sunning that I’m able to get within inches of them with a shorter lens on the camera.
    The Emperors are new to me, but I suspect that I just haven’t been observant.
    I tried looking on the Internet, but have been unable to find information on whether or not we have record numbers of Emperors this year.
    We’ve had some life-giving rains and milder-than-usual temperatures this summer and fall, and our area is unusually green and lush this October. Perhaps we have a bumper crop of Emperors as a consequence.
    I’ll watch for the Emperors in the future to see if we have them each year.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  • Great pictures

    Reply

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