Purple Emperor
Apatura iris
National Status
Spreading, with new sites in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Yorkshire.
West Midlands Status
Spreading, with new sites in Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Purple Emperor was recorded in 14 squares in 2026
10 Year Trend Analysis
Habitat
The Purple Emperor is found in sallow-rich landscapes, typically those found in woodland or mixed scrub.
Caterpillar Food Plant
Goat Willow and its hybrids.
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pupa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flight Period
June to July
First/Last Sightings 2026
| First Sighting | Recorded by | Last Sighting | Recorded by |
| 18 June | Williams, Mike | 14 July | Draycott, Ian |
Distribution Map
Key
Total number of sightings per tetrad
Hotspots
Tiddesley Wood