Storm Bert raged for almost three whole days over the Purple Empire. It and its predecessor felled a number of older sallows.
Some of those sallows will resprout from their root plates, or even from branches rooting into the ground (as 'walking' trees). Many, though, will get chopped up and cleared away.
Crucially, larvae do NOT fall off their silk pads when the tree crashes down, even if a fallen tree is bulldozed.
I searched a number of windblown veteran sallows during the stormy winter of 2013-14, when larval numbers were high. I found larvae at the rate of one per 45 minutes, by searching buds and nearby forks.
It's hard work, but is our only chance of gaining data from tall sallows - and most eggs seem to be laid high up, under or amongst tall sallow crowns. It's best to work as a small gang.
Sub-canopy sprays, with medium-sized buds, are best. Old, lichenised growth with big buds tends to be unproductive.
Obviously, larvae can either be brought home for rearing in the garden - 'pet rescue' - or transferred to living sallows nearby (using wire fasteners).
Tell nosy dog walkers that you're looking for biodiversity...
Here are my colleagues Gary & Sarah searching fallen sallows last weekend. We didn't find anything, but at least we know no Emperor larvae will perish on them -
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