Purple Emperor vs Madeira Longhorn
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Purple Emperor | Madeira Longhorn |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatura iris | Leptura aurulenta |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 62-80 mm wingspan | 15-26 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia, Japan | Mediterranean Europe, Atlantic France, Macaronesia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Purple Emperor
A majestic woodland butterfly whose males display an intense iridescent purple sheen visible only at certain angles. It never visits flowers, preferring carrion, dung, and tree sap.
Did You Know?
Enthusiasts bait it down from the canopy using rotting shrimp, dirty nappies, or Stilton cheese.
Madeira Longhorn
A large flower longhorn with rusty-orange elytra and a black head and pronotum. Found in forests around the Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe. Larvae develop over 3-5 years in dead wood of oaks and chestnuts.
Did You Know?
This species has been found on Madeira Island, giving rise to its common name, though it occurs widely across southern Europe.