More information about this butterfly on these sites:
During 2022 we monitored the presence of butterflies on the land of Forests From Farms. We continued this project in 2023 and 2024.
Our observations regarding the Purple Emperor:
- in 2022 we saw it for the very first time on the wall of our house on the patio; we also saw one high on an Ash tree in the field;
- in 2023 when we had identified it properly we saw it at the exact same place in the field high in some young Ash trees. They are majestic flighers and you can see them chasing each other.
- in 2024 we saw them again in the beginning of July in the same trees and observed how Peacock butterflies were chasing them; Peacock butterflies are very territorial. So is the Purple Emperor.
- the butterfly seems to have settled in our fields. It lays its eggs on willow trees (Salix species), the main food source of the Purple Emperor caterpillar. We have willow trees throughout our property.
