Not too much news at the moment. I've been at home working local sites, with small populations, but am heading back to Knepp tomorrow. The Emperor may be a trifle past peak there...
Emperor males have stopped coming down to the rides to feed at the earlier emerging sites, like Knepp, though they should be doing it for a few more days at the later-flying sites. This weekend may be the last chance to see them on the ground at places like Fermyn.
We are hearing of more and more records of both sexes feeding on sap bleeds on oaks in this hot weather. These bleeds are hard to spot as they're small features - not huge splurges of black treacle running down a tree trunk. Watch for hornet, wasp, greenbottle and Red Admiral activity, as they also love oak sap. Here's a female at sap -
Soon, probably midweek at Knepp, the males will suddenly stop sallow searching during the mornings, and become afternoon butterflies...
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