# Lesser Purple Emperor (*Apatura ilia*) The Lesser Purple Emperor is a beautiful butterfly with purple and brown wings. It loves to flutter around in sunny spots and can be seen resting on tree trunks. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lesser Purple Emperor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fluture_albastru.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kdanv at ro.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fluture_albastru.jpg) ## Appearance The Lesser Purple Emperor is a medium-sized butterfly with dark brown to black wings featuring prominent white bands and spots. Males boast an iridescent purple sheen on their forewings, which appears and disappears with changing light angles, making them distinct from similarly marked species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Apatura ## Interesting facts - Instead of flowers, these butterflies love to drink sweet juices from tree wounds. - Male butterflies sometimes land on people to sip salts from their sweaty skin! - The chrysalis (pupa) of this butterfly looks like a beautiful green jewel hanging from a leaf. - Their caterpillars look like tiny green aliens with two little horns on their heads! ## Special abilities - **Shifting Camouflage:** Lesser Purple Emperor has a magical purple shimmer that helps them vanish into dappled sunlight or blend with tree bark when they tilt their wings. - **Sap Sipper:** Lesser Purple Emperor can slurp up sugary tree sap and rotting fruit using their long proboscis, finding energy where other butterflies can't. - **Territorial Guardian:** Lesser Purple Emperor can fiercely defend its favorite perching spots high in the trees, bravely chasing away rival butterflies and even birds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-60 mm - **Size:** 20-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults prefer tree sap and rotting fruit, while caterpillars munch on tree leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed exclusively on the leaves of willow and poplar trees, whereas adults primarily consume tree sap, rotting fruit, and honeydew, rarely visiting flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Tree sap, Rotting fruit, Honeydew, Willow leaves, Poplar leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Goat Willow (*Salix caprea*) — Larvae feed on its leaves - **Shelter:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Adults often perch on its branches - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Bird predators prey on adults - **Eats:** [Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aspen) (*Populus tremula*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lesser Purple Emperor? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Lesser Purple Emperor's wingspan? 45-60 mm ### How big is Lesser Purple Emperor? 20-30 mm ### How long does Lesser Purple Emperor live? 15-20 days ### How fast can Lesser Purple Emperor fly? 15 km/h ### What does Lesser Purple Emperor eat? Adults prefer tree sap and rotting fruit, while caterpillars munch on tree leaves. ### Where is Lesser Purple Emperor usually found? Forests ### How does Lesser Purple Emperor hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Pairi Daiza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pairi-daiza) — Hainaut, BE · Zoo ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Lesser Purple Emperor: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-purple-emperor)