Black butterfly ?

Naturenutz · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 07:25 PM

OK folks,im afraid ive got one of these unusual unidentified sightings

While in my garden today i saw what in every sense looked like a butterfly about the size of a holly blue but it looked black,i only saw it from 5 or 6 yards away and it never settled but was flying around in quick motion as a holly blue does. Now im not a novice on butterflies or day flying moths and im not saying it wasnt a moth because i cant be certain but the flight was way more butterfly like than the average moth,infact it looked just like a black holly blue in flight.It was a very good flyer,not looking to settle or like it needed too.
Any ideas folks what i may have seen ? ps it looked black in flight but i guess it may have been very very dark brown. also i could see no other colours other than very dark (black)wings but as i was a distance away and it was small i cant say for sure it had no makings

.
certainly baffled me

James M · #2 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 08:32 PM

Could possibly be a Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata? they can look quite butterfly like and they fly during the daytime.

UKMoths - Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata

Naturenutz · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 08:53 PM

Hi james,ive took many photo's of moths n butterflies but thats one ive never seen before.I think that may well be the one

.
cheers
vic

Gaina · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 09:02 PM

Hi Naturenutz! I am SO glad someone else has seen one in our area. I know exactly what I saw but was beginning to think I was going barmy! (OK, so I probably am a bit barmy at the best of times but you get my drift

).

I posted on UK Butterflies about mine and described it as glossy black with an iridescent blue patch on the rear wing. 'Heliconius melpomene' shaped wings with a lolling flight rather than purposeful.

I'm still trying to find out if their are any butterfly breeders near me that might have had an escapee but so far nothing.