Apatura ilia f. clytie - Lesser Purple Emperor, Red variant

The male of Apatura ilia resembles the male of the Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). A different form of Apatura ilia is Apatura ilia f. clytie. This variety has reddish spots and bands instead of white. These butterflies can be found on the edges of forests and near mountain streams from June to August. Caterpillars feed on Populus and Salix. The Low Beskid - Shore of Black Creek - Rymanow Zdroj - July, 2008.