Desiccated Larvae

One of my four captive larvae seems to have shrivelled up and died.  This seems to be a familiar problem to those of us who breed iris, occurring in late winter / early spring.  But what causes it?  Is the bitter east to north-east wind which has plagued us for almost a month responsible?   

I need to check the wild larvae again, to see if they're alright, but in three years' recording to date I have only once had a wild larva desiccate. 

March Larval Survival

Delighted to report that none of the nine larvae I've been following in the wild was lost to predation during March.  That is quite an achievement given that predation levels (seemingly by tits) are highest during the late winter period.  So far I have lost only two out of 11 larvae this whole winter, though winter is far from over and larvae will be late to commence feeding this year.  In other winter's two-thirds of larvae have been lost of predation. 

This winter, tit numbers appear to be down, presumably due to poor breeding success in last spring's rotten weather. 

Although it's still early days I am minded to revise my prediction for this year's adult emergence upwards - though so much depends on weather during the pupal period and, especially, the flight season.  So, finger's crossed, this butterfly may well be on the up again. 

It is far too early to predict when the butterfly will be flying this year.  That depends on weather during May (larval growth season) and June (pupal period).  The fact that spring is late is irrelevant at this stage (iris larvae tend to do very little before the end of April anyway), though the sallows are likely to come into leaf late.

Iris in the High Court

On July 7th 2007 a female iris was found squashed on the steps of the High Court in London, having been batting around in the vicinity for the previous two days by Anne Rose.  The specimen is in the BM.  The squasher's head is on a pike at the entrance to Fermyn Woods.  Here's a photo (by Tim Freed) -

No, I don't believe this was an attempted introduction, or a bred specimen.  This butterfly is seriously mobile (at times) and seeks nothing short of World Domination... 

'BB' and His Purple World

Seriously good stuff by Northamptonshire animation artist Steff Lee.  Highly recommended

http://bbandhisworld.blogspot.co.uk/

Incognito

With the season fast approaching Iris Hulme goes undercover.

Fermyn Woods Wind Farm Decision Quashed!

Delighted to hear that the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow a wind farm containing 4 x 400'+ turbines in the field between Fermyn Wood proper & Lady Wood / Souther Wood etc. has been quashed by the High Court.  The proposal will now have to go back to public inquiry, where hopefully it will encounter common sense. 

Congrats and thanks to the National Trust, English Heritage & East Northants DC who bravely took planning inspector Paul Griffiths's decision to permit the development to Judicial Review. 

See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/9918022/Conservationists-win-landmark-High-Court-victory-against-wind-farm.html 

and
http://ntpressoffice.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/protection-for-lyveden-one-step-closer-thanks-to-high-court-windfarm-decision/ 

I gave evidence to that Public Inquiry in the spirit and memory of fellow lover of the Purple Emperor, author and naturalist 'BB', who lived nearby at Sudborough, and was more than utterly amazed when Inspector Griffiths decided to overturn the original planning decision against the wind farm and allow the proposal to go ahead. 

This season we will be using something called Griffiths as bait for iris on the Fermyn rides...

Bookham Common, Surrey

These photographs are a follow up from the amazing experience with myself and the Purple Emperor last year at Bookham Common in Surrey.

Although there is video footage, this only lasts 6 mins, where as in reality the wonderful Purple Emperor Butterfly spent around an hour and 40 mins with me.

I hope you enjoy the images

Everything crossed I am hoping very much to see something similar this year, but I feel this is unlikely, probably this was a unique and incredible experience which has changed my life.