Purple emperor  (Apatura iris)

The purple emperor once occurred throughout most of England, reaching north to the Humber, and was also found in parts of Wales (5). During the twentieth century it has undergone a severe decline in range (2), and is now restricted to central-southern England. It has also been lost from Wales, and has never occurred in Scotland or Ireland. Recently the range has re-expanded, but it is not yet clear if this represents a temporary change, or a long-term recovery. Elsewhere it is found throughout much of central Europe, and reaches as far east as Korea and China (5).

Inhabits large areas of broadleaved woodland where the foodplants of the caterpillars (goat willow Salix caprea, grey willow Salix cinerea and, rarely, crack willow Salix fragilis) are present (5).