I know this sounds silly, after such a miserably wet winter and early spring, but the Purple Emperor is likely to be on the wing ridiculously early this year, quite possibly at the end of May...
Larvae came out of hibernation and commenced feeding unusually early, having suffered only relatively low predation rates.
Fourth instar larvae were recorded in Sussex in early April. That's unprecedented. Fourth instar was recorded in Notts, at the northern end of the known Empire, in mid-April.
Purple Emperor larvae can shoot through the 4th instar, when the weather's dry - and a big anticyclone is (at last) setting in...
Of course, cold and/or wet weather can slow 5th instar larvae right down, but if the May weather behaves, expect this butterfly to be flying by its end, or at the very start of June.
Watch this space!
3 comments:
Hi Matthew, where are the closest Purple Emperors to my new address, near Filey East Riding of Yorkshire, cheers, davidj
Chambers Farm Wood at Wragby in Lincolnshire is nearest to you- I've seen at least 1 emperor every time I've visited during Emperor season.
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