Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Purple Emperor, ab iole (lugenda) at Lady Wood

I took these recent photos of a very dark specimen of the Purple Emperor (ab. Iole (Lugenda) at the 'junction' in Lady Wood (Fermyn Woods) on Thursday 16th July 2015.
Time: 3.58pm.

It didn't stay down for long but long enough to manage a few photos.

I have just read Matthew Oates' blog on the Purple Empire website which showed this very same aberrant butterfly photographed by some others at this location on the same day.

I thought I had been the only person to have seen this particular specimen but pleasantly surprised that others had also been fortunate.

I thought, therefore, that you might also like to see my versions of this stunning and unusual specimen.

It looks like a male because the second of the two photos (showing some underwing) does show a slight trace of purple on the upper wing.

In view of this, do I also qualify for a Iole Fellowship badge? Or am I too late?

It would be interesting to hear your comments.


2 comments:

Matthew Oates said...

You certainly qualify for the Iole Fellowship badge, which you have to wear dutifully on the anniversary of the sighting - then get plastered and end up with your trousers on your head... Address please (NB it may take me ages to do this...)

Alwyn Timms said...
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