Apatura iris
The Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) is a Eurasian butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.
Description
Adults have dark brown wings with white bands and spots, and a small orange ring on each of the hindwings. Males have a wingspan of 70–80 millimetres (2.8–3.1 in), and have an iridescent purple-blue sheen that the slightly larger (80–92mm) females lack. The larvae (caterpillars) are green with white and yellow markings, and have two large ‘horns’ at the anterior end and a smaller one at the posterior.
Dorsal side
Dorsal side
△ Ventral side
△ Ventral side
Habits
Females spend most of their lives in the tree canopy, favouring dense and mature oak woodlands, coming down only to lay their eggs in the small sallow bushes that grow in clearings and rides. Males also spend much of their time in the tree tops, defending their territory from rivals, though they will sometimes descend to drink from puddles or feed. Unlike most butterflies, the purple emperor does not feed from flowers but instead on the honeydew secreted by aphids, sap oozing from oak trees, and on dung, urine and animal carcasses.
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