Purple Emperor vs Pine White
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Purple Emperor | Pine White |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatura iris | Neophasia menapia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Pieridae |
| Size | 62-80 mm wingspan | 42-52 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Mountains |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia, Japan | Western North America |
| 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.
Pine White
Delicate white butterfly with black forewing veins. Uniquely among pierids, larvae feed on conifer needles rather than broadleaf plants.
Did You Know?
Periodic population explosions can defoliate large stands of ponderosa pine forest.