General election day, with the Purple Emperor butterfly poised to take over running the country... I can think of nothing less suitable to run the country...
Rather too windy today, especially for territorial activity.
I arrived in Savernake just in time to see a male hanging from his pupal case. This was 'Scar', who was found as a third instar larva last autumn and was followed all the way through. He hibernated in this scar, hence the name -
He greened up early, in late winter, and began feeding at the end of March, but then developed slowly as he was on the north-facing side of the sallow. He travelled just 3m to pupate. Here's his pupal case -
Unfortunately, a gust of wind dislodged him, so he landed on this mossy trunk -
Eventually this happened -
He was last seen beating up a Purple Hairstreak high up in the treetops.
PE is probably just getting going properly in Savernake, but it was hard to judge from such a windy day.
Elsewhere, more excellence in Abbots Wood Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire.
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