Thursday, October 31, 2013
Another Christmas Present
Prints available of oil painting featured on front cover of new book on BB's Butterflies. £35. See http://www.roseworldproductions.com/fine-arts/purple-emperor-apatura-iris
Sunday, October 27, 2013
In Hibernation
Last Sunday all the wild iris larvae I checked were still in full Lincoln green. Normally, a fair few have started to colour up by then (Oct 20th) and the odd one may even be in hibernation.
They've been colouring up fast this week, both in captivity and in the wild, so that today in the wild only 3 out of 28 seen were still in full Lincoln. Most were about 20-50% coloured up, and the first hibernating larvae was found. Here he is, in a fork of 1cm diameter twigs.
Interestingly, several were seen adding silk to their seat leaf stalk, to strengthen it to cope with the developing wind. Unfortunately it was too windy to photograph that!
They've been colouring up fast this week, both in captivity and in the wild, so that today in the wild only 3 out of 28 seen were still in full Lincoln. Most were about 20-50% coloured up, and the first hibernating larvae was found. Here he is, in a fork of 1cm diameter twigs.
Interestingly, several were seen adding silk to their seat leaf stalk, to strengthen it to cope with the developing wind. Unfortunately it was too windy to photograph that!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Ditty
Some 40 years ago The Muse visited me and left me with the following:-
My eyes have seen the glory of the Purple Emperor,
He was flying round an oak tree that was very very tall,
He got pestered by a hairstreak that was very very small,
So he.................................................................................. .
Unfortunately, or perhaps mercifully, The Muse departed before I managed to finish the thing. Do feel free to complete it...
My eyes have seen the glory of the Purple Emperor,
He was flying round an oak tree that was very very tall,
He got pestered by a hairstreak that was very very small,
So he.................................................................................. .
Unfortunately, or perhaps mercifully, The Muse departed before I managed to finish the thing. Do feel free to complete it...
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Record Egg Lay!
Delighted to report that my annual standardised search for Purple Emperor larvae in & around Savernake Forest has produced a staggering total of 179, comfortably beating the previous record of 141 in 2009. It is all the more amazing as I found just 24 in 2012.
These figures are derived from 40 hours of searching on a representative selection of trees - i.e. not merely homing in on the best-looking trees in known hot spots. The data include eggs (only I don't search for them much), live larvae, the distinctive seat pads & feeding leaves of failed larvae plus or minus associated egg case bases.
Interestingly, the breeding grounds have shifted this year.
Also, larvae of Buff Tip, Pebble Prominent and Dot Moth are all unusually numerous on sallow foliage this autumn, though the Sallow Flea Beetle is not having a particularly good year.
Here's one larvae that didn't make it (though it still counts as one of the 179 finds). This is only the second perished larva I've found during the five years -
And here's a happy caterpillar doing a poo...
These figures are derived from 40 hours of searching on a representative selection of trees - i.e. not merely homing in on the best-looking trees in known hot spots. The data include eggs (only I don't search for them much), live larvae, the distinctive seat pads & feeding leaves of failed larvae plus or minus associated egg case bases.
Interestingly, the breeding grounds have shifted this year.
Also, larvae of Buff Tip, Pebble Prominent and Dot Moth are all unusually numerous on sallow foliage this autumn, though the Sallow Flea Beetle is not having a particularly good year.
Here's one larvae that didn't make it (though it still counts as one of the 179 finds). This is only the second perished larva I've found during the five years -
And here's a happy caterpillar doing a poo...
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
OUTRAGE
The following piece of naff tack is for sale in National Trust shops, presumably Made in China. It is deeply insulting to People of Purple Persuasion, and even more insulting to iris himself. Feel free to complain to the Trust...
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Christmas Present
Put details in front of your other third's nose now before you get bought socks & slippers. see http://www.roseworldproductions.com/
Christmas Present Review!
Since Matthew mentioned Ken's new book, I thought I'd share my review, which can be found at: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/reports_willmott.php. Highly recommended!
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