Purple Emperor

The Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) is a butterfly from the Nymphalidae Family. It has dark black- brown wings with white lines and an orange ring on each of the hindwings. Males have an iridescent blue sheen. Females don't have the sheen. Purple Emperors can be seen from June through August on the edges of wet deciduous forests and along forests paths. They do not feed on flower nectar. Instead they look for the honeydew secreted by aphids, for dung, urine and animal carcasses. They spend most of their lives in tree canopies, but occasionally descend to drink. The Low Beskid - Shore of Black Creek ( Czarny Potok) - Rymanow Zdroj - July 6, 2008.