Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Sweden
Brush-footed butterflies · Sweden

Lesser purple emperor

Apatura ilia

A large skimmer butterfly resembling purple emperor, but smaller and with an eye spot on the upper side of its forewing. It was first observed in Sweden in 2011, and has been reported annually since 2019. It is assessed as not applicable (NA) in the Swedish Red List 2020.

Status in this countryVagrant in SwedenNA (Not applicable)
Lesser purple emperor

Flight period

No Swedish flight information was found in the sources examined; the species flies in Central Europe from the beginning of July to the beginning of August.

Habitat

More open woodland environments along waterways.

Identifying features

Wingspan 66–72 millimetres. Resembles purple emperor but has narrower and more S-shaped forewings, as well as an eyespot on the upper surface of the forewing. The white band on the hindwing lacks the outwardly directed "roof" that purple emperor possesses.

Similar species

Resembles purple emperor (Apatura iris); lesser purple emperor is smaller, has longer and more S-shaped forewings, an eyespot on the dorsal surface of the forewing, and lacks the white "roof" in the band of the hindwing.

Distribution

The first Swedish discovery was made in 2011; since 2019, the species has been reported annually.

Biology

The larvae feed on aspen, black poplar, and goat willow.