English name:
Lesser Purple Emperor
Full scientific name:
Apatura ilia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Croatian name:
Mala preljevalica
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1-2 broods per year. Overwinters as caterpillar.
Distribution in Croatia
Missing in the south. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The upper side of the wings is brown in color with orange spots. At a certain angle of view, the light rays create a purple reflection. Below is comparison with Apatura metis and A. iris.
(1) In A. ilia, the orange spots in discal zone of hindwing are smallest. A. iris has dark upper side of wings with white spots and prominent and crisp spots in S2 zones of both wings.
(2) The dark spot in S2 zone of underside of the hindwing is almost invisible in A. metis.
(3) The dark spot in S2 zone of underside of the forewing is smallest in A. metis.
Behavior
It often absorbs juices on moist soil or feces.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Family Salicaceae.
Habitat
It is common at the edges of wet woodland and along the water streams. Elevations: 0-600m.
Gallery
