Apatura ilia - Lesser Purple Emperor - Kleine weerschijnvlinder - Kleiner Schillerfalter

The ground colour of the upperside is brownish black with white spots on the forwing and a white stripe across the centre of the hindwing; this species looks very similar to the Purple Emperor. The male displays a bright-purple iridescence when viewed from cerain angles. The female, which has larger white markings, has no iridescence. The undersides are greyish brown with orange mottling and black and white spots. Flight from May to September in one (somtetimes two) brood. The Lesser Purple Emperor is usually seen flying around the treetops and feeding mainly on honeydew.  The larval foodplants are poplars (especially Aspen) and willows. ​