59.022 .... B&F 1584
Purple Emperor Apatura iris (Linnaeus, 1758) 
Status .....The origins of the present populations of this magnificent Butterfly in Nottinghamshire were once uncertain and regarded as being of captive-bred origin, but it is now thought to be part of a naturally ocurring northward range expansion. Purple Emperors were last known from Wellow Park many years ago and there was been an attempt to reinstate them there again in the last few years, but it has also started to turn up at other sites and more information regarding this butterfly is forthcoming and it's Nottinghamshire status is changing.

Whatever the origins of the butterflies photographed by Michael Walker at Cotgrave Forest below are, having the Purple Emperor in Nottinghamshire, does  make a welcome re-addition to the county's fauna and large numbers of visitors went to see them at Cotgrave Forest in 2017. Our thanks go to Michael Walker for kindly allowing us to use his photographs. The lower four show a rare example of the known abberration lugenda.
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Female Apatura iris. Photographed at Budby South Forest July 2024
 
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Male Apatura iris. Photographed by Michael Walker, Cotgrave Forest July 2017.
 
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Apatura iris abb lugenda. Photographed by Michael Walker, Cotgrave Forest July 2017.
 
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Early stages                            
Eggs. Laid on Goat Sallow Salix caprea. Photographed at Sherwood Forest July 2021.
 
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Newly hatched larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea, Sherwood Forest July 2021.
 
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2nd instar larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea, Sherwood Forest August 2021.
 
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3rd instar larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea, Sherwood Forest September 2021.
 
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Overwintering 3rd instar larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea, Sherwood Forest November 2021 (17th and 23rd).
 
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4th instar larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea May 2022
 
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5th instar larva. Photographed on Goat Sallow Salix caprea May 2022
 
 
Pupa. Photographed June 2022
 
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Pupa fluorescing under UV light. Photographed June 2022
 
 
Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Purple Emperor
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Michael Walker. NBGRC. Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Various (unknown) observers. Nick and Samantha Brownley. Brian Wetton. Chris Butler.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated July 2024

copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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