Suffolk update

Rob Parker, Suffolk recorder has emailed me the following update for publication on the Purple Empire -

I have done a bit of asking around, and can now offer an update for you to post on the Purple Empire:

On 28th July, Matthew Oates wrote: Incidentally, we have received no reports from the introduced population in Suffolk this year. How's it doing? Also, we never receive any reports from Kent, or on the introduced population in Essex. News welcome on these fronts... http://apaturairis.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/2012-egg-lay.html SUFFOLK UPDATE Since John Quinn made his freelance introductions at Theberton Wood circa 2001-2004, and the population became public knowledge in 2005, iris has continued to fly in that small wood. John agreed not to make any further releases thereafter so that we could be confident that it really was self-sustaining. Happily, they went from strength to strength, and observers watched them 2005-2011, whilst forestry work thinned the conifers, retained most of the sallows and opened rides and canopy somewhat. A number of sightings were also made at RSPB Minsmere (just 3 miles away to the northeast) suggesting that the population was doing very nicely, and in 2011, one male turned up at North Warren, 6 miles to the south east. Enthusiasm continued after John's death, and Theberton Wood is tended by Sam, a forester who is generally to be found amongst the July enthusiasts. It is understood that he was involved in a sallow cutting operation, presumably in 2011, after which a thorough search of the fallen branches discovered iris larvae, and 11 were taken into captivity to overwinter safely. Apparently they survived very well, as Sam was able to release at least 4 in the first week of July 2012, separately, as they emerged, and possibly before the wild population had taken to the wing in a year of extraordinary fluctuations of weather that would probably have delayed emergence of the wild population. It is unfortunate that this release has masked the performance of the truly wild population, but it can be argued that they were Theberton stock that would otherwise have perished. The Emperor was certainly observed at Theberton in 2012, but as usual, valid counts are difficult to obtain, and the County Butterfly Recorder has not received many sighting reports or subjective judgments of population strength. The best, on 26th July, identified 4 separate females (3 with distinctive damage, and one fresh-looking perfect specimen) and one male - a minimum of 5 still flying at that date, and the females engaged in apparent egg-laying behaviour. Can anyone correct or add to this? I do not have a phone or email contact for Sam (or even know his surname). When I visited in July, I had missed him by 20 minutes. I am not in touch with Eileen Quinn either, but I would like to be able to provide Matthew Oates with a more authoritative answer. Sam made no secret that he had taken 11 PE and 5 SWF (presumed chrysalises or maybe caterpillars) into captivity to be overwintered. But I do not know whether he released the same numbers. I think the date of Sam's release was 6th July 2012, but am not certain that this was a one-off event. Rob Parker

Bookham Closes Down

Not being content with seeing the first Purple Emperor of the year (on 29th June) the immortal combination of Bookham Common and Ken Willmott now claims the last!  A single male was seen there by Ken on Sun 26th August, though none was seen there yesterday (28th).  'In my end is my beginning'.

Can someone please push for a September iris?  I managed it in 1977. 

It probably is over in Hertfordshire?

After a warm sunny morning, arrived at the Northaw assembly area this afternoon to be greeted with a 30 minute bank of cloud, to right and left blue sky but not where I was watching! At 2.40 I had 30 minutes of 100% sunshine followed by a further 20 minutes of sunny moments.............the only activity in the assembly area was by two imposters - Red Admirals that flew up high clashing! Otherwise sadly nothing - Liz

Last Upper Thames sighting was on August 19th in Little Wood by Mick Campbell. The first in this wood was seen on July 8th, making a flight season of 6 weeks in this wood. The first sighting in this region was on July 4th. I had a surprising experience, looking for larvae yesterday, in a mid-Bucks wood. See picture [zoom in to read writing!]: on the big old broad leaved Sallow on the left of the ride I found one larva; on 25th July a female spent some time in and around this Sallow. On the other side of the ride, exactly opposite, is a narrow leaved Sallow; to my delight and astonishment I found 7 larvae [both 1st and 2nd instar] and one egg here. I've never before found more than two larvae/eggs on one Sallow in the UK, and I've no idea why this particular Sallow was favoured.

Another Aberration

Male 'semi-iole' photographed by Doug Goddard in Fermyn Woods on 23rd July, 'Big Bang' day in Fermyn.  I saw it in close by flight, but it wouldn't settle for me...

The nightmare truth is that I may well have walked past it when it was feeding on the ride, wings closed, for there is little to tell from the underside that it was a variation (white bar on hind wing somewhat reduced, and slightly less of the reddish-brown surround too).  The lesson is obvious, check each specimen... -

I know of at least nine iris aberrations that were seen this year: seven in Fermyn Woods, Northants, and singletons in Bentley Wood (possibly two), Wiltshire, and at Knepp Castle estate in West Sussex.  Most were photographed.

And at this stage it looks as though the last iris of the year was seen in Herts on 23rd Aug...  Any more late sightings?

More from Sir Vauncy Harpur Crewe

A rather nice black selene next to an acute paphia. 

A day's takings in the New Forest in mid July 1910.  Like all collectors Sir Vauncy had it in for poor valezina...

Fat Lady Time in Savernake

I failed to see any males in the main territories in and around Savernake yesterday afternoon and suspect that the season may have ended there, somewhat suddenly as two males in reasonable condition were battling away in the best territory on Sunday 19th. 

Worse, initial searchings for ova & larvae on some of the most favoured trees have been decidedly disappointing.  I fear that the 'egg lay' there has been very low, which surprises me as the females have had a decent run of good laying days - more reasonable laying days than in the last two flight seasons together.  We shall find out...