Freyer's Purple Emperor vs Scotch Argus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Freyer's Purple Emperor | Scotch Argus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatura metis | Erebia aethiops |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 60-70 mm wingspan | 40-48 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, China | Europe, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern (globally); rare and declining in Eu | Least Concern |
Freyer's Purple Emperor
A large, powerful butterfly closely related to the purple emperor but restricted to river valleys. Males display a brilliant purple-blue iridescence on the upper wing surface.
Did You Know?
Males patrol narrow sections of riverbank at high speed, chasing away all other large insects.
Scotch Argus
A dark brown butterfly with russet-orange bands containing eyespots, found in northern grasslands and light woodland. It flies in a bouncing manner close to the ground.
Did You Know?
In Britain, it is confined to Scotland and a single colony in the Lake District surviving since the last ice age.