pink butterfly??

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

well I really genuinely don't think this going to be a species new to science. These pink 'butterflies' are going to be one of the suspects already raised in the thread or less likely - an escape - though I have never seen s bright pink butterfly in any of the tropical butterfly houses I have visited - but its not impossible.

This has been my feeling all along.

[src7478]

My partner and I saw a pink butterfly last week in our front garden flying around the hedge. I am pretty sure it wasn't a moth as it had a very thin black body and had its wings vertical when it landed. The wings were all one colour which was a very bright pink, it could possibly have had a narrow black border around the edges but it was difficult to tell.

I've looked at the pictures of hawk moths and cinnabar moths and neither look exactly like the butterfly in question. The cinnabar is closest but this butterfly/moth (?) did not have different shades of colour at the front/back of its wings.

Perhaps there could be a variation on a cinnabar moth? Do moths always have their wings spread horizontal when they land?

Thanks,

Simon

[src7478]

Looking more into the cinnabar moth, I realise it lives near Ragwort weeds, I had some of these in my garden at the time (since removed) - so perhaps it is a variety of cinnabar moth?

What do you guys think?

[Jez]

Originally Posted by src7478

Looking more into the cinnabar moth, I realise it lives near Ragwort weeds, I had some of these in my garden at the time (since removed) - so perhaps it is a variety of cinnabar moth?

What do you guys think?

My answer is Cinnabar. Shame you pulled the ragwort up, you could have got your answer the sure!

[almostnormal]

ummm, on the subject of pink moths/butterflies there is a native species called the small elephant hawkmoth deilephia porcellus. when freshly emerged (between may and july) its bright pink with yellow markings - but it is predominantly pink. also its quite small (about an inch) so when flying it probably looks dayglo pink. according to my moth bible its food plants include rhododendron and it can sometimes be seen during the day. apparently can also flock in quite large numbers. apparently locally abundent in the south - so could be why most of the sitings are down south? sorry i haven't got a picture of one - i've never seen one in the flesh!

hope this helps?

[charlieb]

This is a Small Elephant:

[Eliz]

Hi

I found these pages when trying to ID a butterfly that I saw in Folkestone. It had bright pink wings. I am 100% sure it was a butterfly as its movements and settled stance were that of a butterfly.

After hours of serching and some help I found what it was Agrias Claudina Lugens (Nymphalidae, Papilionoidea were my clues). I have discoverd they do turn up from time to time in varying Agrias forms, somtimes from collections or imported plants etc. I don't know if they can breed and or survive in the UK tho, I doubt they can without human help... then again I could be wrong !

This is deffo what I saw and I wonder if its what others might have seen ?



PS there is a butterfly house or two in the areas (within a few miles) and some private collections.

[aeshna5]

As they originate from Peru it's unlikely the food plant would be here ( apart from possibly botanic gardens), but no doubt an adult could survive during the warmer parts of the year.

It's possible some of the pink butterflies seen by people posting on this forum could be escapes but others maybe some of the UK species suggested by others.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Eliz

Hi

I found these pages when trying to ID a butterfly that I saw in Folkestone. It had bright pink wings. I am 100% sure it was a butterfly as its movements and settled stance were that of a butterfly.

After hours of serching and some help I found what it was Agrias Claudina Lugens (Nymphalidae, Papilionoidea were my clues). I have discoverd they do turn up from time to time in varying Agrias forms, somtimes from collections or imported plants etc. I don't know if they can breed and or survive in the UK tho, I doubt they can without human help... then again I could be wrong !

This is deffo what I saw and I wonder if its what others might have seen ?



PS there is a butterfly house or two in the areas (within a few miles) and some private collections.

Another very likely suspect, however if it is the culprit it would go against nearly all sightings that swear bling the insect was totally pink with no black, blue or other markings. But as with cinnebar syndrome i suspect in flight this is not visible.

[Eliz]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Another very likely suspect, however if it is the culprit it would go against nearly all sightings that swear bling the insect was totally pink with no black, blue or other markings. But as with cinnebar syndrome i suspect in flight this is not visible.

Yes, in flight it will look totally pink as the wings are very flouresent and its quite stuning. Only when it landed did I notice the other detail and as you can see those details are quit small compared to the larger shocking pink area.

There seems to be several types and I have also noticed like huntsman spiders etc they dont always get killed off during export on plants and fruit (in egg stages).

Still wherever it comes from be it imported by mistake or escaped from a butterfly house, its quite an amazing sight.