Freyer's purple emperor

Taxobox
name = Apatura metis


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
divisio = Rhopalocera
familia = Nymphalidae
subfamilia = Apaturinae
genus = "Apatura"
species = "Apatura metis"
species_authority = Freyer, 1829The Freyer's purple emperor ("Apatura metis") is a species of butterfly found in Eurasia.

Appearance

Freyer's purple emperor has dark wings with reddish and yellow bands. The wings of the male insect are bluish purple if the observer sees it from the right angle.

Systematics

Freyer's purple emperor belongs to the genus "Apatura", subfamily Apaturinae. The species is divided into seven subspecies:
* "Apatura metis metis" (South-Eastern Europe)
* "Apatura metis bunea" (South-European Russia, Caucasus)
* "Apatura metis substituta" (Japan)
* "Apatura metis irtyshika" (South-Western Siberia, Kazakhstan)
* "Apatura metis separata" (Transbaikalia)
* "Apatura metis heijona" (Korea, Amur and Ussuri regions)
* "Apatura metis doii" (Kurile islands)

Habitat and ecology

Freyer's purple emperor usually inhabits forests and is often found nearby rivers and streams. The female spends the majority of her life in the foliage.The largest habitat of the animal is the Gemenc forest in Southern Hungary. In spite of the fact that it is one of the rarest animals in Europe, it can be observed in large quantities there. In Europe, Freyer's purple emperor usually has one, sometimes two generations, the first in May and June, the second in July and August. The caterpillars feed on willow species.

The insect is stoutly protected in Europe. The nominal worth of a single specimen is 50,000 HUF, which equals about USD $238.