![Purple emperor butterfly collecting minerals from droppings](/media/1585/purple-emperor-butterfly-collecting-minerals-from-droppings-alamymxf8b1-gillian-pullinger.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&heightratio=0.5622047244094488188976377953&width=647&rnd=132078460660000000)
Credit: Gillian Pullinger / Alamy Stock Photo
What do purple emperor butterflies eat?
Caterpillars: goat willow is the preferred food plant. Caterpillars are active at night.
Adults: aphid honeydew and tree sap are the main food source, though they also come to ground to feed on animal dung and carrion for salts and minerals.