Asterocampa leilia explained

Asterocampa leilia, the Empress Leilia, Leilia hackberry butterfly or desert hackberry,^[1] is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

Description

Adults are brownish orange, with white and black spots on the bottom of the wings.^[2] The length of the wings is 1.5 to 2 inches (38 to 51 mm).^[3]

Distribution

The species can be found in the south-western United States, including Arizona and Texas, as well as Mexico.

Ecology and habitat

Adults feed on dung, sap and rotten fruit.^[4] In very rare cases the species will feed on nectar. They live in canyons, streamsides, thorn scrubs, and washes.^[5] Males of the species will wait near their food plants for females to appear.^[6] Larvae feed on hackberry.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Asterocampa leilia. Arizonensis. 23 February 2012.
2. Web site: Asterocampa leilia. Dallas Butterflies. 23 February 2012.
3. Web site: Asterocampa leilia. Bug Guide. 23 February 2012.
4. http://leps.thenalls.net/speciesnum.php?lep=65 Rotten fruit feeding
5. Web site: Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia (W.H. Edwards, 1874). Butterflies and moths. 24 February 2012.
6. Web site: Empress Leilia. Fire Fly Forest. 23 February 2012.
7. Web site: Larvae feeding . 2012-02-20 . 2012-05-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120510193744/http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/arth_emle.htm . dead .