4th Instar Larva, in September!

Just when we thought that 2026 couldn't get any more amazing for butterflies, the Purple Emperor moves towards producing a second brood. 

Last Sunday, Sept 13th, Team Savernake found an L4 larva! 

Normally, Emperor larvae overwinter in L3 and change into L4 in mid-spring. 

Here it is, on a distinctly autumnal leaf -

                                Photo  Gary Knight

Now, if iris is moving towards producing some second brood adults in the frozen wastes of Wiltshire, what is it doing in the warm South East???

Watch this space...