Sussex Update

Following recent Purple discoveries in East Sussex by Peter Farrant (2+ males at Warningore Wood) and Michael Blencowe (single males at Wadhurst and Middleton Plantation/Brocks Wood), I headed to the latter location with Michael this afternoon. In the breifest of weather breaks, and despite strong winds, we saw a pair of males in combat at 15.30 hrs, followed by a very large female in the wayleave at just past 16.00 hrs. We now know the source of the Emperors which have visited the back garden bird table of a B&B in the nearby village of Streat in recent years.

Elsewhere, despite tragically poor numbers in Sussex this season, single Emperors have been seen on several of the unusual sites found along the very crest of the South Downs, stretching from Heyshott in the West to Lewes in the East. Hopefully next year will see the start of a local recovery.

Emperor Cleans Chair

Here's an excerpt from a posting made to the BC Sussex website by member Shirley Wright.

"Nyewood: App 11am 22nd July 2012, splendid male Purple Emperor flew through open door of our conservatory and spent about 30 minutes (presumably seeking minerals) on ancient, dusty linen chair cover and on edges of an old detached Spanish tile. Purple/mauve wings flashing in sunlight and suddenly it disappeared."

Finemere Wood, Bucks (2nd August)

Having completed a transect there this morning, I loitered over lunchtime in the hope of finding a female or two around Finemere Wood's many sallows but the only activity seen was from a single tatty male, still defending his territory above the Corsican Pines along the main ride.  You'd think by this stage of the season he would have found a nice oak in which to put his feet up until the inevitable happens, but no, every passing bird and insect still had to be seen off.  It can't be all that comfortable perching on pine needles either! 

German bait

Referring to Derek's blog and the nice photos from Germany, he asks whether we've tried cheese as bait. When we were in Switzerland, I read in a German publication on iris that a particularly smelly Austrian cheese called Limburger always works: see picture. Well, I bought some...............it cost me the equivalent of £3, and did it work ? Did it h..l ! I reckon all the Iris's in that Swiss wood were saying to each other: " Ve refuse to come down on ze cheese ein

Enlgaender bought!!"

German site

Some excellent photos of the early stages on this German site.

http://www.lepiforum.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?Apatura_Iris

I note that it suggests the adults can be attracted with cheese! I assume they mean the runny German stuff and not a slice of healthy cheddar. Anyone tried it?

Abbotts Wood - Alice Holt

Just a quick note to say that I managed to get out this afternoon not really expecting to see anything. However, the sun decide to appear and I spent a good ten minutes watching a single male on territory flying almost continuously including chasing off what I assume was a hairstreak. Great to see that they are still about here. 

Paper

Not strictly Purple Emperor, but Apaturinae are cited in this recent paper that might be of interest to some of you.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0041396