A highly positive session in one of the key breeding areas of Savernake Forest yesterday. A gang of three found 24 larvae, three eggs and a few instances of predated / lost larvae. 11 were found on one tree. Larvae will be followed in situ.
One of the eggs may well have been laid on Sat 26th (certainly no earlier than Fri 25th) -
So, there may be the odd female still at work in Savernake.
Larvae were a mix of late 1st instars (some skin changing) and early 2nd instars. Here's a skin changing L1, note the diagnostic yellow 'collar' -
Here's an early L2 larva, showing the distinctive feeding marks and the midrib isthmus which larvae try to defend against invertebrate predators (or possibly desiccated in the heat) -
But many succumb to predation, especially L1s. This Early L2 larva has probably been sucked by a sucking bug -
Onward!
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