Back to Sussex Butterfly Report 2004 Index

2004 : The Emperors, Admirals etc

The White Admiral was recorded on 83 occasions in 2004, 29 times more than the previous year. The main flight period was from the end of June into early August.

Purple Emperor sightings clustered at the western end of the Sussex Downs, around Heyshott, West Dean and Eartham Woods, extending to Iping/Stedham Common or to the west and north of Horsham. Looser sightings occurred between grids 30 and 40, extending from the Loder Valley through to Friarsgate, the only sighting in East Sussex (Dr Lucy Love).

The Red Admirals was recorded from 171 squares, a full 64 less than in 2003. At 513, there were 162 less sightings in 2004. The first were seen in small numbers after mid-February but were plentiful from June through to September, with sightings continuing until mid-November.

The Painted Lady was recorded from 136 squares, 85 less than in 2003. At 336, it was also seen 252 times less than in 2003. After a widely observed influx in February (possibly originating in North Africa) there were no further sightings until June when substantial numbers were seen and again in mid-August with late individuals seen to mid-September.

The Small Tortoiseshell was recorded from 191 squares, 64 less than in 2003. On the other hand it was seen 74 more times in 2004. The first brood emerged at the end of March and the beginning of April and the second at the end of June; there was possibly a weak third brood at the end of August.

The Peacock was recorded from 167 squares, 28 less than in 2003 but it was seen on 75 more occasions in 2004. The first brood emerged in April and may and continued until June. The second brood emerged in July and early August and continued to fly up to mid-September.

The Comma was the only vanessid for which reports did not decline between 2003 and 2004, it being found in 179 squares in both years and seen 46 more times in 2004.