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
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