Purple Emperor

Special features: The iridescent purple colouring is only seen on the male. The female has brown wings with brighter white patches. Both the male and female purple emperor have eye-spot markings on the undersides of the wings.

Purple emperors are rarely seen on the ground except when feeding. They are best spotted with binoculars as they flutter around the tops of oak trees.

The green caterpillars have pale yellow oblique stripes on their sides and two pale green horns on the head, giving them a slug-like shape. They feed on sallow.

You can identify butterflies yourself with one of these superbly illustrated charts

Latin name: Apatura iris

Size: Wingspan approx 75mm.

Distribution: Found mainly in southern and central England and the borders of Wales

Months seen: Late June to early September.

Habitat: Woodlands

Food: Nectar. Will also sometimes feed on dung for salts and minerals.