Ok, I can stop whining now about no butterflies this year. This year, in my own yard, I have now photographed Cabbage Whites, Silver Spotted Skipper, Tiger Swallowtail, Dark Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Variegated Fritillary, Gulf Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary, and now the Hackberry Emperior. Most I have only seen once, but I have seen them.
Last year I saw one Hackberry, and posted it here. It was also on the brick of my house. Now another one on the side of the house. I have never seen them on my zinnias. The color of my brick is a pretty good camouflage for the Hackberry, and notice something has already got a piece of him.
The only host plant of the Hackberry Emperor is the Hackberry tree, the only Hackberry tree I had was leaning over the road so the county cut it for us. Now I feel guilty, I might have more of these if I had kept the Hackberry tree. That was 2 years ago, so there must be another tree close by.
My favorite is this last one. It actually was the first one I snapped. I almost missed him. I had already turned the camera off and was stepping in the front door when I saw him.