Head to head
White Admiral vs Purple Emperor
White Admiral
VS Purple Emperor
The white admiral and purple emperor are two large woodland butterflies of Europe whose lives are tied to particular trees and shrubs, but they behave very differently.
| White Admiral | Purple Emperor | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Limenitis camilla | Apatura iris |
| Appearance | Dark brown-black wings crossed by a broad white band | Males show a flash of iridescent purple-blue on the upper wings that appears only when light hits them at the right angle |
| Habitat and range | Shady woodland rides and clearings across Europe and eastward into temperate Asia | Mature broadleaved woodland across Europe and into western Asia |
| Where it flies | Often glides high along woodland rides | Spends much of its time high in the canopy of broadleaved woodland, especially oak |
| Caterpillar food | The leaves of honeysuckle | The leaves of sallow, or goat willow |
| Adult food | Nectar from bramble flowers | Tree sap, aphid honeydew, and sometimes mud, dung, or carrion |
| Winter | A young caterpillar in a small shelter made from a folded honeysuckle leaf | A small caterpillar tucked into a crevice in a sallow tree |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though it has declined in parts of Britain | Least Concern |
White Admiral vs Purple Emperor: common questions
Which butterfly is notoriously elusive?
The purple emperor, which spends most of its time in the treetops and rarely visits flowers.
Which one drinks nectar from bramble?
The white admiral, while the purple emperor prefers tree sap, aphid honeydew, and sometimes mud, dung, or carrion.
Which tree does each caterpillar need?
The white admiral needs honeysuckle, while the purple emperor needs sallow, also called goat willow.