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Apatura iris

Purple Emperor

Field Notes

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Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Male taking salts

 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Male completely lacking blue sheen from this angle.

 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004
 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004
 

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001

Purple flash obvious.

 

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001

Purple flash hidden at this angle. Resembles female.
 

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001
 

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001

Angle just beginning to show the purple flash.

 

A truly majestic species. It soars high around the tree tops for most of the day but early in the morning or on cloudy days it can be found on the ground taking salts from mud, faeces and dead animals. Human sweat is another favourite. If a butterfly is put on a hand or arm it will stay there for hours drinking the sweat. I had one on my arm for 20 minutes once before we drove off. Even with my arm out of the window at about 80 kph the butterfly kept drinking in the full force of the wind. I had to shake it off as we left the forest for less suitable habitat!

The male is best known for its striking flash of purple that can be seen from certain angles. This is illustrated in the above photos of a male drinking in dull weather. The female lacks this flash and resembles closely the second photo.

 

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