Apatura Iris Lavae at Savernake Forest 23 OCT

[GOLDENORFE]

ON SUNDAY I TRAVELLED DOWN TO SAVERNAKE FOREST WITH GILLIAN THOMPSON , A 5.30 AM START FOR ME!!!!!! ABOUT 195 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE, BUT I ONLY HAD TO DRIVE HALF WAY!

WE WERE SHOWN THE PURPLE EMPEROR LARVAE BY MATTHEW OATES WHO KINDLY SHOWED US AROUND THE WOODS WERE
HE HAS BEEN MONITERING THEIR PROGRESS, WE HAD HOPED TO SEE A FEW THAT HAD CHANGED COLOUR TO HIBERNATE BUT IT HAS BEEN FAIRLY WARM AND THEY HAVE ONLY JUST STARTED TO DARKEN.
MATTHEW TOLD US THE NUMBERS OF THE POPULATION HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD NEWS, IT HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES SO ITS NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR NEXT YEAR EITHER!

TAKEN WITH MPE-65 , LAVAE APPROX 10 - 12 MM IN LENGTH.

MY BUTTERFLY ADVENTURES BLOG - http://goldenorfephotography.blogspot.com/

PHIL

[Pete Eeles]

Great shots, Phil!

Matthew is one of the most knowledgeable and welcoming Lepidopterists I've ever met; I'm sure you had a great time in his company! I saw him last Saturday and suggested he get himself his own TV series

Cheers,

- Pete

[GOLDENORFE]

Agree with you Pete,a really nice guy , we had a great day and so much information learned! amazed he manages to find these little pillars
Gill even managed to pick out the congregation trees in a little test matthew set her
a real privilage to actually see these lavae in the wild!

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Phil,
Fantastic images - I've seen Gillian's effort too . I nearly joined you on the day but my baby daughter's swimming lesson would have meant a very late start. Hope Oates kept his clothes on.
Neil