Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)

Family: Nymphalidae Checklist: 59.022

 
Description
Wing span: 73-90 mm. The male Purple Emperor is probably the most beautiful butterfly found in Britain. He has black wings intersected with white bands. When the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, a purple sheen is displayed. The female is a deep brown colour and does not have the purple sheen found in the male. She is larger than the male. This species is restricted to central southern England. It is found in well-wooded areas, often on clay soils where the damp conditions are favourable for willows.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Purple Emperor ♂ © Ben Paternoster
Purple Emperor ♂ underside © David Hastings
Purple Emperor ♀ © Liz Hodgson
Purple Emperor ♀ underside © Liz Hodgson
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
The flight period is from the end of June to early August. The larva is the over-wintering stage.
 
Larval Foodplants
The primary larval foodplant is Goat Willow (Salix caprea), also known as Pussy Willow. Crack-willow (Salix fragilis) and Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) (aka Sallow) are also used.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults feed mainly on aphid honeydew and tree sap. They do not usually visit flowers.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 14th June
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 23rd June
 
Species Champion
Martin Robinson
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Reports
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:
Buckinghamshire
Bernwood Forest
Black Park
Calvert Jubilee
Chinkwell Wood
Finemere Wood
Rushbeds Wood/Lapland Farm Meadows
Oxfordshire
Piddington Wood
Sydlings Copse
Warburg Reserve
Waterperry Wood
Whitecross Green Wood

 
Related Species
All Species