The traditional New Year's Day caterpillar check revealed that no Purple Emperor larvae were lost (to predation) during December at the two sites I'm monitoring (Savernake Forest and a site near Lambourn), out of a sample of 20. That's promising...
However, I did lose one in Savernake during middish November. It may have moved, as larvae weren't firmly in diapause then, but I haven't managed to relocate it - if it's still alive, it's gone a long way. Extinction and extermination can be hard to prove...
Moreover, Ben Greenaway lost three out of 20 hibernating larvae he's following in Southwater Forest, West Sussex, during December. That compares to five in December 2019.
So, fingers crossed, they're wintering well, so far; and the early January freeze up is good for larval survival. I'll check next at the start of February (if able...).
Here's 'Ivanka', taken on New Year's Day-
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