Black Butterfly ?

[LucyBeagle]

I live in the North East of England and last night we had a pure black butterfly in the house. I assumed it was a moth, but my husband, who managed to get it back outside, absolutely swears that it was a butterfly. Interesting that it is the same area of England!!

[ThePainter]

Hi,
Ive still yet to see it myself, if I do Ill try to get a pic.
I live in the Westerhope area of Newcastle.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by ThePainter

Hi,
Sorry this isnt something I saw so I dont have many details or pics.

My Daughter and Mother in law saw what they describe as a pure black butterfly today in the garden, I live in North East England, Ive never seen anything of this description before, they are positive that there were no markings on it at all, its wings were open so they didnt just see the often dark underside of the wings.

Anyone got any ideas what it may be ?

Ill keep my eyes open, if I see one and ID it ill report back.

Thanks

I know this is an old thread but I remembered it when I came across this Moth and wonder if it is possible this is is what your mother in law and daughter saw? It is black and a day flyer, but is usually seen later in the year.

Chimney Sweeper Moth, Odezia atrata. I saw it on Uk Moths, so you could have a look and see what you think.

[Action_Man]

I wondered also what they were that i was seeing for the last few weeks - now i know - Chimney Sweep Moths.

I`ve seen lots of them for about the last three weeks or so - i`m in the North West (Lancashire) ...

[alexker]

Hi,
I also saw a black butterfly - today (9/7/08) just after mid-day! I was so intrigued I looked it up on Google - which is why I've ended up here! No - it isn'y ANY kind of moth - have always had an interest in wildlife and have never saw anything like a black butterfly before. I managed to get up very close to it. Right up beside it I could see the thinnest faint thread of yellow or beige running along the edge of its wings - but barely discernible. I live in Northern Ireland, where the butterfly population sadly seems to be in decline (the fact that it mostly rains here doesn't help!) I suspect it must be, as someone more knowledgable than I has pointed out, a variant of some kind. I see several of the brown butterflies with yellow spots (forget their name, but quite common) lots of times, so quite possibly a variant of that. Really astonishing though. Was delighted and intrigued to see it. So the lady who saw the black butterfly is correct - it IS a black BUTTERFLY!
Cheers,
Alex

[Harry Eales]

This subject comes up almost every year, 'I have seen a small black butterfly, what is it?'

Well it's not a butterfly, it's a day flying moth that just looks like a butterfly. It is all black except for a fine white edging to the tips of the forewings. They favour damp fields or roadside edges and are on the wing now. I saw several just yesterday.

It is called 'The Chimney Sweeper'. It's distribution covers almost the whole of the British Isles.

Please remember that not all moths fly by night, in fact there are far more day flying moth species, than there are butterfly species in Britain.

Harry

[ron1863]

I made this mistake a while ago, thinking I had photographed a butterfly but was actually the Chimney Sweep moth, which was identified by more knowledgable members. There were dozens of them flying about next to a small loch in daylight.

[alexker]

After searching the web (and with some family assistance) it seems highly likely that the black butterfly I (and some others) saw was, in fact, a RINGLET. Which, apparently, can appear 'almost black AND the spots can be completely absent'! (Britishbuttetrflies.co.uk).
It WAS NOT the Chimneysweeper moth, as one 'expert' explained, since the black butterfly had no hint of white (or any other colour) on the tips of it's wings.
I rest my chest m'lud.
Alex

[Jason Green]

The Chimney Sweeper - that is one moth I'd love to see!

[leifus]

I'm probably wrong but I may as well suggest it: how big was it? could've been a purple hairstreak or black hairstreak... its probably peppered moth though