Easy separation of Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor (1 Viewer)

Last year I was struggling with the separation of Apatura ilia and Apatura iris when only upperwing images were possible. the projection in the white bar on the hind wing of apatura is said to be diagnostic but I have found several Lessers with a small projection and this can be confusing, see the insect in my second post below.

It was pointed out to me pers com that a very substantial, bright orange, tip to the antennae is diagnostic of ilia, this is a feature not mentioned in any of the literature that I have although it seems apparent in the illustration in Collins.

I took these pictures today in St Petersburg, Russia. The first two pics are of iris and there are three separate ilia, the feature is consistant albeit a small sample.


Andy

This is an ilia showing a small protrusion in the white bar on the hindwing of the type that has confused me in the past.

Though it's not as pronounced as on apatura it can be enough to cause a question mark over ID to the inexperienced when the underwing isn't seen.


Andy

How reliable is the feature of the orange eye showing on the forewing in lesser and not on "regular" purple emperor?

This 'eye' can be absent on Lesser, epsecially when a bit worn. Even on worn individuals that I've seen, the antennae remain bright and obvious.

Lesser is much commoner here than Purple and the presence of Purple here probably represents a slight Northward expansion. This map shows approximately the range as given in Collins, (Tolman and Lewington) south of the red line and the circled area is where we are. They must be showing up in S Finland now?

https://maps.yandex.ru/?um=dmZZA0fj-10srRbnNUQd425TvU8v1pnT&l=map&ll=27.760549,58.925395&z=7

We also have breeding Araschnia levana, Map Butterfly which in Collins has a very similar given range as Purple Emperor so another Northerly expansion.

I think there is a lot to learn about European Russia, it's hugely neglected in the literature for most things due to the practical difficulties of travel and access.


Andy

See also http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=307983