Freyer's purple emperor
Encyclopedia
The Freyer's Purple Emperor (Apatura metis) is a species of butterfly
found in Eurasia
.
insect
are bluish purple if the observer sees it from the right angle.
, subfamily Apaturinae
. The species is divided into seven subspecies:
spends the majority of her life in the foliage.
The largest habitat of the animal is the Gemenc
forest in Southern Hungary. Although it is one of the rarest animals in Europe
, it can be seen 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.
This species is stoutly protected in Europe. The nominal worth of a single specimen is 50,000 HUF
, which equals about USD $238.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
found in Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
.
Appearance
Freyer's purple emperor has dark wings with reddish and yellow bands. The wings of the maleMale
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
are bluish purple if the observer sees it from the right angle.
Systematics
Freyer's purple emperor belongs to the genus ApaturaApatura
Apatura is a genus of butterflies commonly known as the emperors.-Species:Listed alphabetically.* Apatura ilia – Lesser Purple Emperor* Apatura iris – Purple Emperor...
, subfamily Apaturinae
Apaturinae
Apaturinae is a subfamily of butterflies that includes many species commonly called "emperors".-External links:* List of North American species with images.* Images.In Japanese but binomial names....
. 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 femaleFemale
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
spends the majority of her life in the foliage.
The largest habitat of the animal is the Gemenc
Gemenc
Gemenc is a unique forest that is found between Szekszárd and Baja, in Hungary. This is the only remaining tidal area of the Danube in Hungary. The wood's fauna include stags, boars, storks, grey herons, gyrfalcons, meadow eagles, and kites. Various amphibians and reptiles can also be found...
forest in Southern Hungary. Although it is one of the rarest animals in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, it can be seen 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
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
species.
This species is stoutly protected in Europe. The nominal worth of a single specimen is 50,000 HUF
Hungarian forint
The forint is the currency of Hungary. It is divided into 100 fillér, although fillér coins are no longer in circulation. The introduction of the forint on 1 August 1946 was a crucial step of the post-WWII stabilization of the Hungarian economy, and the currency remained relatively stable until...
, which equals about USD $238.