Great Purple Emperor vs Scarce Umber Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Great Purple Emperor Scarce Umber Moth
Scientific Name Sasakia charonda Agriopis aurantiaria
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Geometridae
Size 75-110 mm wingspan 35-40 mm wingspan (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Dung Feeders Herbivores
Regions East Asia, Japan Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Great Purple Emperor

Japan's national butterfly, known as 'o-murasaki' in Japanese. Males display a stunning purple iridescence on their wings. A large and powerful flier found in deciduous forests.

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Did You Know?

Designated as Japan's national butterfly in 1957, the Great Purple Emperor is rarely seen feeding on flowers, preferring tree sap instead.

Scarce Umber Moth

An autumn-flying moth with warm orange-brown wings marked with darker speckles. Females are wingless and crawl up tree trunks to await males.

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Did You Know?

It emerges so late in autumn that it sometimes flies in early snowfall.