Knepp: Day 24

The Knepp Emperors didn't bother getting up before 11.50 today. That is typical late season behaviour, though I don't understand why the females don't take advantage of the absence of pestering males to lay eggs whilst the males are sleeping in... So, in this heat and at this stage in the flight season, don't bother venturing out until late morning.

Some males are just about on their last wings now. This one was three-legged, feeding up on a small sap bleed before blundering off into the sun - 

We've seen almost daily tumbledowns, in which mated females reject amorous males. Several tumbledowns have resulted in females sitting on flowers, like this bramble visit today - 

She was not feeding on bramble, merely recovering from being pestered by a male. She soon skuttled off into the sallows.

At this rate the Knepp Emperors will be all but over by July 15th, having battled their way to Eternal Glory...