Size:
Wingspan is 1 5/8 - 2 3/4 inches.

Similar Species:
Hackberry Emperor

Habitat:
Found near hackberries, roadsides, woodland edges and bottomlands near brown water.

Range/Abundance:
Uncommon in the central and eastern Piedmont and mostly rare elsewhere in region.

Flight Period:
Adults fly from late May until late September in two broods with a gap between broods.

Larval Host Plants:
Hackberries and sugarberries Celtis spp. including Sugar Hackberry Celtis laevigata and Dwarf Hackberry C. tenuifolia

Comments:
Tawny Emperors can be found feeding on tree sap, carrion, dung, puddles and rotting fruit. They rarely nectar on flowers. They also are attracted to the salts in your sweat and might perch on you allowing very close looks at them.

This species is uncommon or rare most years, yet some years they can be somewhat common. Males are seen more often than the much larger females.

The top photo was taken in Caswell Co., NC on June 10, 2003. The second photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on August 16, 2000. The third and fourth photos were taken at the Chilo Lock #34 Nature Preserve Park in Clermont Co., OH on September 01, 2002. The bottom photo was provided by Bob Moul.

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