purple emperor

British  

noun

1. any of several Old World nymphalid butterflies of the genus Apatura, esp A. iris, having mottled purple-and-brown wings

---

Example Sentences

Species NWT has helped recover in Norfolk include crane, bittern, purple emperor butterfly and natterjack toad.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

It’s widely accepted that he put the purple emperor back into Lincolnshire – but critics argue that the butterfly would have returned eventually.

From The Guardian • Oct. 13, 2020

But White had some notable successes, particularly with butterfly species that lived in trees – black and brown hairstreaks, and the purple emperor.

From The Guardian • Oct. 13, 2020

Other safaris, both on foot and in vehicles, focus on the dawn chorus, bats and moths, purple emperor butterflies, Sussex oaks, owls, kingfishers and other highlights of the natural world.

From Washington Post • Jan. 3, 2019

But in certain 388other tropical groups, and with some of our English butterflies, as the purple emperor, orange-tip, &c.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I by Darwin, Charles