It was a fair year for the butterfly locally. It was reported from 5 new tetrads which included 3 sites where we judge that the species could establish a breeding population.

However, the recent rapid expansion of the butterfly's range seems to have slowed. Numbers of reports from most sites were lower than in 2007. Some sites returned no reports despite previous sightings for many years. Weather during the flight period was a trial to both butterfly and would be recorders and goes some way to explaining the fall in records.

More extensive surveying is required in north Bucks, southern Berks and NW Oxon, to establish the range of the species.

Studies of male territory seeking behaviour shows that high points formed by several taller trees in small blocks of woodland are likely to be utilised just as in the largest woods, especially if there is Sallow in the vicinity.

Woodland managers continue to see ride-edge regenerated Sallow as a 'pest' species and remove it. More work needs to be done to raise awareness of the Sallow's importance and thereby reduce this practice.

Left: The 2008 distribution of Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). Map via Levana.