Purple Emperor

Butterflies and Music, The male purple emperor possesses the iridescence that gives it its name: the metallic purple shimmer is a structural colour created by light refraction through special scales. Its scientific name (apatura iris) also reflects this: Iris is the goddess of the rainbow. The butterfly is often seen feeding on faeces, carrion, or even human sweat, as it primarily obtains nutrients from minerals

• Jan HaftDirector