Appearance
Adults have dark brown wings with white bands and spots, and a small orange ring on each of the hindwings. Males have a wingspan of 70–80 millimetres, and have an iridescent purple-blue sheen that the slightly larger females lack. The larvae are green with white and yellow markings, and have two large ‘horns’ at the anterior end and a smaller one at the posterior.
Naming
*"Apatura iris iris"⤷ "Apatura iris bieti" Oberthür, 1885
⤷ "Apatura iris xanthina" Oberthür, 1909
⤷ "Apatura iris kansuensis" O. Bang-Haas, 1933
⤷ "Apatura iris amurensis" Stichel, [1909]
Distribution
"Apatura iris" is widely distributed in dense, broadleaved woodlands throughout Central Europe including southern Britain, and in suitably temperate parts of Asia, including central and western China. Different subspecies are found across the region.Behavior
They lay eggs in late summer on the upper side of sallow leaves, preferring the broad-leaved sallow, Salix caprea, but they will also use the narrow-leaved sallow, Salix atrocinerea, and various species of poplar. After hatching, the larvae will lie along the midrib of the leaf where they are well camouflaged, and feed only at night. During the winter they hibernate in the forks of sallow branches, where they change colour from green to brown to match their surroundings. The following June they form a pale green chrysalis, 30–35mm long and 12–15mm in width, resembling a leaf shoot. The adults usually emerge in July, flying well into August.References:
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