Widespread in North America, especially the southern states, the Hackberry Emperor is often viewed by children as a "friendly" butterfly because of its propensity to land on visitors to the margins of a woods. This reflects the fact that it is not primarily a nectar drinker, adapted instead to obtaining water and nutrients from rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, carrion, and... human sweat.
The photos show a Hackberry Emperor on the ground, on a forearm, and on my jeans, taken during the
SWBA field trip to Cherokee Marsh a couple weeks ago. (The apparent color variation is I think more likely a reflection of the available light at the time the photos were taken.)
The picture on your jeans is quite lovely - nice shot!
ReplyDeleteThe American Snout butterfly is another one that will hang out on a person, lapping up sweat. The Hackberry tree also happens to be the hostplant for the American Snout.
ReplyDeleteI've always been of the opinion that Hackberries and Sugarberries (genus Celtis) are some of the best native trees that a person can plant to support wildlife. Plants in the genus Celtis support over 30 species of lepidoptera in North America (according to "HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants). Plus most frugivorous birds (and small mammals)eat the tree's berries. Nectar collecting bees utilize the flowers. And I am of the opinion that they are great shade trees.