Purple Emperor larvae in the cool climes of Wilts & Glos are entering their final instar (L5). That's early... It also means that there must be mid-L5 larvae in the warmer, sunnier southeast, perhaps even some late L5 larvae there...
Here's Henry the Navigator, from Savernake Forest yesterday, he's early L5 -
Larvae are getting heavy, which means the leaves they're on hang perpendicularly -
Soon, very soon, 5th instar (L5) larvae will start stripping sprays, like hawkmoth and Puss Moth larvae. Look out for this distinctive feeding on alluring sallows...
Given that the weather outlook (and beyond a week's range forecasts are of Low Confidence), it looks very much as though an EARLY FLIGHT SEASON IS LIKELY.
At this range, it looks as though males will be appearing in the warmer, earlier parts of the Purple Empire (Sussex, Surrey, Kent) around the weekend of June 7th-8th.
I'm not making an official prediction at this stage - give me another week.
Adult numbers could be very good this year, but much depends on the weather during the critical pupation and pupal periods.
Watch this space, closely...
*Coming soon, the 1975 Purple Emperor season, 50 years on.
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