(Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)
Lesser Purple Emperor
Description:
The Lesser Purple Emperor is found in clearings and along paths in damp, deciduous woodland that is often situated in river valleys or on the banks of rivers. The butterflies are often seen near puddles on the road, and on dung from other animals. Especially the males are attracted to strongly smelling cheese. Its food plants are poplars (Populus spp.), and willows (Salix spp.). The female, choosing rather small, not so robust trees, deposits her eggs on the upperside of leaves that are half in the shade, or in the sun.
The caterpillars usually lie along on the nerve in the middle of the leaves, nibbling the rest of the leaf away more or less symmetrically. The half-grown caterpillar spins itself a little pad in the fork of a twig on which it hibernates. In the spring, it returns to the fresh buds and leaves to feed. It pupates suspended from the underside of a leaf or branch.
To the north of the Alps and at high altitudes, the Lesser Purple Emperor has one brood a year, but in warm valleys and south of the Alps, it can be double-brooded.
There is a striking form, clythie, in which the white of the markings on the upperside of the wings is largely replaced by pale orange. It forms a proportion of most populations, and is sometimes common.
Habitat:
Mixed woodland
Alluvial and very wet forest
Deciduous forests
Similar species:
Apatura metis
Apatura iris