pink butterfly??

tempest · #1 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 12:43 PM

Dear all,

Butterflies are not my area at all, and today I saw the most amazing creature, which had a black body and bright pink wings! I have looked online to see if I could identify it but nothing has come close. It landed on my shoulder for a few seconds so I got a very close up glance at it but I can't seem to identify it at all. It's colour was very bright and it didn't have any other colours on its wings or body. Any ideas anyone?

Tempest

Ollie · #2 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 01:00 PM

Hi Tempest and a warm welcome to WAB from me. I have no idea of the ID of your butterfly but from your description it could have been a day flying moth. Some of the moths can be easily mistaken for butterflies and I would suggest looking at the moth photos in the Gallery to see if this helps.
Roger

Ollie · #3 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 01:07 PM

Hi again Tempest. I have just searched the moth Gallery and found this that seems the most likely moth for your descripton, but of course I may be totally wrong. http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...age-10489.html
Roger

tempest · #4 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 01:11 PM

Yes, it had a body very much like that but the colour was pink not red and there were no black markings on the wings. However, that is definitely the most similar. It was closer in colouration to some of the elephant hawk moths though i think.

T

flutterby · #5 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 02:10 PM

They are certainly flying at the moment. I photographed one in a back garden in Stockport last Saturday. Very striking. Picture does not do it justice (taken with a phone). It was very vivid.
Name: Cinnabar Moth.jpg
Views: 52
Size: 174.5 KB

Name: Cinnabar Moth.jpg
Views: 52
Size: 174.5 KB

Richard

tempest · #6 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 02:16 PM

yes, it was an amazing sight. It seemed a much brighter pinker colour to me though and I didn't notice the black markings but I suppose it may have been the light. Definitely the most likely candidate!

T

Beryl · #7 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flutterby

They are certainly flying at the moment. I photographed one in a back garden in Stockport last Saturday. Very striking. Picture does not do it justice (taken with a phone). It was very vivid.
Attachment 1986

Richard

This is the cinnabar moth it flies by day and night. I have put two up in the Gallery.

A moth has smooth antenea and butterflies have sort of baubles on the end.

leyland · #8 (**permalink**) 23-06-2006, 05:41 PM

Since this topic started i saw 1 yesterday and 2 today down my local park.
Very eye catching is they fly past.
Ley

toddytwo · #9 (**permalink**) 02-07-2006, 08:32 PM

hello everyone,
just joined the forum ,as today I saw "a pink butterfly",and googled,finding this site and post.
like tempest I could swear my insect was one colour ,and a bright shocking pinky purple.
I spotted it on heather and bilberry moorland approx 1,000 ft above sea level,in county durham,and as the first time I was uncertain,I waited untill I saw another.
no piccie but next time I'll take my camera.
toddytwo

toddytwo · #10 (**permalink**) 05-07-2006, 09:23 AM

mine turned out to be cinnebar moths too,I went back to the site last evening and found them again ,they look totally different at rest don't they?
I took piccies as some nearby chrysalis were hatching and the moths were emerging.
hope they turn out ok
toddytwo

glsammy · #11 (**permalink**) 05-07-2006, 10:58 AM

Welcome to WAB toddytwo. I like your user name!

toddytwo · #12 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 08:23 AM

after studying the pics I took,my cinnebar moth was actually a five spot burnet moth

we have a good pic of the moth ,and the case ,so I'm pretty sure
thanks for the welcome ,

toddybear is my dog ...so I'm toddy too

Lonewolf · #13 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 02:54 PM

I saw a pink and black butterfly this afternoon and it certainly wasn't a cinnabar moth so keep looking if you wish to identify it, it may be a foreign species.

Adam Cheeseman · #14 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddytwo

after studying the pics I took,my cinnebar moth was actually a five spot burnet moth

we have a good pic of the moth ,and the case ,so I'm pretty sure
thanks for the welcome ,

toddybear is my dog ...so I'm toddy too

I'd check to see if it was Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet, which is common, as opposed to a 5-spot Burnet Moth, which is quite uncommon.

Cheers,

Adam

tempest · #15 (**permalink**) 22-06-2006, 01:09 PM

Thanks Roger,

Yes, I think you must be right, it looked more like a day moth than a butterfly now I have looked at the Gallery. Thanks for the tip! None of those pictures are quite right either though, but on the right track! Thought I was seeing things! Thanks.

T

hawaii · #16 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 04:03 PM

Hi
I also saw a bright pink butterfly yesterday, never seen anything like it before it was such an amazing colour. It didn't stay around long enough for me to get a good look as I was so taken back by it. Can you possibly send me that link with the photo in as it doesn't seem to take me there when I click on it, thank you

nadaj · #17 (**permalink**) 23-06-2007, 07:44 PM

hi today we saw a bright pink butterfly/moth too , in South Oxfordshire, and very glad to find your site....i will now go and study these moths on the internet! Thanks for the help! Nadaj

nadaj · #18 (**permalink**) 23-06-2007, 07:47 PM

Have looked at the photos of the burnet and cinnabar moths, and it definately wasn't these...it was so vividly pink. Unfortunately, no photos, but it was very beautiful

James M · #19 (**permalink**) 23-06-2007, 10:21 PM

Are you absolutely sure it wasn't a Cinnibar Moth as in flight you might not notice the black forewings and just the vivid red/pink hindwings.

Moth Photographers Group -- The Cinnabar Moth -- 8113

mayormaynot · #20 (**permalink**) 23-06-2007, 10:38 PM

I have just joined this forum having found the website because I was googling in order to try and identify a superb small shocking pink butterfly I saw a few days ago in Tonbridge, Kent. I've just looked at the photo of the cinebar moth and it certainly was not that. The wings were just this one colour an amazing shocking pink and a black body. I think my friends thought I was imagining what I saw, so I have been most encouraged to see that others have seen it too. I hope somebody can identify it!

hawaii · #21 (**permalink**) 24-06-2007, 07:33 AM

I can't believe so many people have seen this bright pink butterfly & no one knows what it is! Someone out there must be able to help. If anything it's made a few more people aware of butterflies, me for one

Urisk · #22 (**permalink**) 24-06-2007, 01:38 PM

Isn't it funny how all of a sudden there's a spate of sightings, and everyone seems to know to come here?

Maybe it's just me. Thinking too much into this...

agrumpycow · #23 (**permalink**) 24-06-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urisk

Isn't it funny how all of a sudden there's a spate of sightings, and everyone seems to know to come here?
Maybe it's just me. Thinking too much into this...

If you do a google search for 'pink butterfly' this thread is first on the list!