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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| 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 |
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Pupa. Photographed June 2022 |
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Pupa fluorescing under UV light.
Photographed June 2022 |
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