Ministerial Statement

Here is a Ministerial Statement on the State of the Nation's Caterpillars (Rhopalocera):-

'Led, as ever, by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Woods,  the High Spirit of the Midsummer Trees, The One of Whom the Nightingale Sings - to cite a few of His numerous epithets - the larvae of some of our butterflies are unusually advanced.'

'Purple Emperor larvae had commenced feeding in Savernake Forest, Wilts, by March 18th, equalling or narrowly beating the record set in 2019 and 2020.' 

'Moreover, the sallow foliage is now unprecedently advanced, following a mild winter (our last cold spell was at the start of January) and the mid-March anticyclone.  Sallow blossom is currently at peak.'   

'Also in the woods, some White Admiral larvae are already feeding, some Pearl-bordered Fritillary larvae have reached their final instar, and if you want something utterly barking, look at the advanced state of White-letter Hairstreak larvae - they're likely to be on the wing in early May.'

'At this range, unless the weather deteriorates, the Purple Emperor is likely to be out by early June, breaking the long-established record set in 1893. Numbers could be astoundingly high, as larvae have come through the winter well.'  

Some Emperor larvae have been feeding by 'bud biting', like this (Savernake 18th March 2026):- 

Most, though, are lined up alongside sallow buds, waiting for leaf buds to loosen, or sepals to darken and open, so they can commence feeding. They are well greened up, like this:-

Watch this space, and get very worked up...