June 25th

This time 50 years ago, during the midsummer heatwave that immortalised the Long Hot Summer of 1976, the first Emperor of the year was seen on Midsummer Day, June 24th, by KJ Willmott, at Bookham Common. That equalled what was then the known earliest PE record (the Marlborough College record of 10/6/1893 had not come to light). The following day, June 25th, the first was seen in Alice Holt Forest. Then the Emperor erupted...

Right now, males and the first females are emerging nicely at most sites. In particular, this is the week to look for males feeding on the rides: watch out for the shark's fin wing shape, especially on or around any form of dung.  

In hot weather, and especially in bright sunlight, they tend to feed with their wings tightly closed, opening up only if they crawl into shade. However, you can persuade them to open up by slowly casting your shadow over them IF they are fully absorbed in feeding - watch for the probing yellow tongue and the rocking head. If they take off, freeze - play musical statues. Be careful not to make footfall vibrations, to which they are very sensitive.  

Note that they often take a break whilst feeding, flying up into a nearby bush to clean their tongue for several minutes before descending again. Watch out for the second coming...

Nationally, they'll probably stop descending to feed on the rides shortly after the coming weekend - only males aged 1-4 days do it, plus the odd female in extreme weather.

They should move on to the sap runs soon, to get plastered...