Purple Emperor
Apatura iris
This record describes Apatura iris (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 75 to 85 mm. The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, the most beautiful purple sheen is displayed, a result of light being refracted from the structures of the wing scales. The female, on the other hand, is a deep brown and white and does not possess the purple sheen found in the male. Deciduous woodland where the larval food plant - willow is present, particularly Goat Willow and Grey Willow. Its range is limited to central southern England, between South Wiltshire and South Hampshire in the west, Surrey and West Sussex in the east, and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire in the north, with scattered colonies elsewhere. It is not found in the north of England, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands and has not been seen in Wales since the 1930s.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Genus
- Apatura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Deciduous woodland where the larval food plant - willow is present, particularly Goat Willow and Grey Willow.
Seasonal Activity
Mid June to early August.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Its range is limited to central southern England, between South Wiltshire and South Hampshire in the west, Surrey and West Sussex in the east, and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire in the north, with scattered colonies elsewhere. It is not found in the north of England, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands and has not been seen in Wales since the 1930s.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apatura iris. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Purple Emperor (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Emperor
What is Purple Emperor?
Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Purple Emperor found?
Habitat: Deciduous woodland where the larval food plant - willow is present, particularly Goat Willow and Grey Willow.
When is Purple Emperor active?
Purple Emperor: seasonal activity - Mid June to early August..