This small butterfly has a wingspan of 2 – 2 1/2 inches. Overall it is a dark brown to a rich tan color. Dorsally, the forewing is a dark chocolate to black color with several white spots toward the tip, and light brown toward the base. The hindwing is light brown with oval dark, brown spots in the submargin. Ventrally, the wings are patterned with brown bars and chevrons and white patches. The hindwing has a row of black eyespots with blue pupils and rimmed with yellow across the submarginal band. The mature caterpillar is about 1 1/4 inches long and has a sluglike shape. It is light green with inconspicuous cream-colored lengthwise stripes and cross bands. There are 2 short tails projecting from the rear. The head is brown with brown antlers and spikelets. The head spikelets are often half the length of the longest ones along the cheeks. On the closely related Tawny Emperor caterpillar, the antlers on the head have spiklets that are more than half the length of the spikelets projecting from the branched spines of the “cheeks.”
This common butterfly flies from spring to fall, and in some years it can be very numerous. It can be found almost anywhere around Hackberry trees, but it can be commonly found along Gifford Road and the parking lot by the Wetlands Center in Fontenelle Forest. It perches on trees or sips from damp soil or sweaty skin. Hikers often find they have attracted one of these butterflies which is sipping sweat from their hand, neck or arm.
The larvae of this species never feed communally. The closely related Tawny Emperor larvae feed communally through the 3rd instar when they disperse to feed individually. The host plants are Hackberry trees.
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