Our foolhardy Emperor caterpillar in Savernake Forest is now midway through its final instar, photoed on Sun Oct 4th -
It's moved 3m, in-bush and then back out on another branch, with sparse, yellowing leaves infested with Willow Rust. Weather and seasonality permitting, it may try to pupate later this week.
Meanwhile, some other (less insane) larvae there are starting to colour up prior to hibernation - that's early, very.
It's a crazy year, and Emperors do Crazy big time...
