sob sob sob..... I just read all these posts, reading as the story unwound, hoping that I would find the answer.....
Guess what.... I spotted a bright fushia/cerise/barbie pink tiny little butterfly/moth in my garden yesterday! (pause for the collective groan...)
I grabbed my Mum's arm and pointed open mouthed - which she promptly copied!
The creature landed on the lawn, we rushed over and bent down to look.
Unlike the cinnabars previously mentioned, even when motionless it was still pink (bright, vivid Barbie Pink, not red or orange or brown or dusky or terracotta) unmarked, but had a black body.
I am struggling to remember exactly after looking at hundreds of pictures of red and pink butterflies and moths on the internet for two days....... but I think it had black around the edges of the wings (or at least a very very dark pink.)
It was V shaped (like the cinnabar pics I have been looking at) and about 1in long (max.)
It looked most like the pic posted at:
Insect and Spider Identification: shearpamela picture (Pink Moth) but a darker pink and with black body.
It sat on the lawn for about 40 seconds before fluttering off. Plenty of time for a good gawk, but unfortunately not enough time to get to the edge of the lawn, let alone get all the way into the house to get a camera!
Oh yes, when in flight the pink was a little muted - like the underwings were grey or something.... does that help?
Camera is now in hand on every trip outside incase I see it again.....
