UTirana Fluturat Monographs

Fluturat e Shqipërisë
Butterflies of Albania


Sylvain Cuvelier =
Anila Paparisto =

Last update: 05.viii.2023

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Tirana University
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Department of Biology
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Apatura metis / Freyer's Purple Emperor
Perandori i purpurt i Freyerit

Nymphalidae - Apaturinae

Apatura metis Freyer, 1829. TL: Pecs, Hungary.




1a. Apatura metis, distribution map. Historical data ; Additional data from the 2018 update ; New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Apatura metis. Skhodra Lake, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1c. Habitat of Apatura metis. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Apatura metis ♂ underside. Shkodra Lake, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1e. Apatura metis ♂ upperside. Shkodra Lake, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)

Description
♂♂
Large butterfly. Fw: 30-32 mm, the smallest of the Apatura.
Ups: irridiscent purple-blue flush on dark gc, markings orange.
Upf: s4 to s6 postdiscal yellow spots wide, s2 ocellus small, sharp apex.
Uph: orange discal band with a distinct bulge, dark posdiscal markings forming a distintive band, s2 ocellus often lacking.
Unf: smalr ocellus.
Unh: ocellus very small or absent.
♀♀
Larger.
Ups: no irridiscent purple-blue flush on dark gc, markings orange.
Upf: rounded apex, markings similar.

Similar species

Apatura ilia
Size:sllightly larger Apatura.
Upf: less elongated wing.
Upf: large black ocellus in s2.
Upf: narrow postdiscal spots in s3 to s6.
Uph: no angle in discal band on v3.
Uph: slightly concave discal band.
Unf: pale orange-brown gc.
Unf: large black ocellus in s2.

 

Apatura iris
Size:larger Apatura.
Upf: inconspicious ocellus in s2.
Uph: straight inner edge.
Uph: dentate on outer side of discal band.
Unf: black ocellus in s2.
Unf: brown gc.
Unh: brown gc.
Unh: dentate on outer side of discal band.

Life cycle
Adults: two generations from May to June and from second half of July to end-August.
Egg: short stage.
Caterpillar: overwintering as L2 larva.
Pupa: short stage.

Habitat
Apatura metis inhabits forests along lakes, wetlands and rivers from lowland up to 700 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement considerable, population density can be very high.

Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on Salix alba.
Butterflies feed on liquid from rotten material, dung and carrion, mud-puddling.

Distribution
Albania: very local (more research needed)
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU*
Temperate parts of W. Asia and further east.

Conservation status
Apatura metis is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: VU.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.

Useful links
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps

< Apatura iris


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