ID Help: Pink Butterfly

[JenStar1976]

Hello

Today I saw the most striking butterfly. The underside of its wings were bright cerise pink - I didn't get to see the top side as it didn't move. Its thorax was black and cerise pink striped (just like a wasp!). It's body wasn't furry in appearance. It was definitely a butterfly as I could clearly see it's proboscis and antennae.

This was spotted in Chelmsford, Essex whilst walking by the edge of a river.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions - I've scoured the Internet and my books and cannot find anything. Could it be a foreigner over for the lovely weather??

Thanks very much in advance.
Jenny

[aeshna5]

Welcome Jenny. A real sense of deja-vu with your post. If you look in the archives there has been a long running post over a similar query. All suggestions of ID seem to be denied by observer + so the ID is never resolved.

Basically there isn't a UK or even European butterfly that is bright pink in colour. I guess there is a chance of an exotic species escaping from a butterfly house or maybe a moth such as a Cinnabar which seems more likely + is seen by day + is quite butterfly like.

[nutmeg]

Possibly a Ruby Tiger - but that has furry body and isn't particularly 'typical' butterfly like.

[JenStar1976]

Thank you so much for your replies. I've looked into the species you each mention, but have discounted them due to the distinctive striped markings on the thorax. I am absolutely stumped!

[andy brown]

Have you looked at the elephant hawk moth

Regards

Andy

[Deb London]

This thread reminds me of another one:

pink butterfly??

[JenStar1976]

Thanks again for the further replies. It's definitely not the Elephant Hawk Moth the one I saw had thick cerise pink and black stripes on its body - they were distinctive stripes, just like a wasp. It's legs and antennae were black.

[violet_bug]

Wow a pink butterfly! A picture is a must if your lucky enough to catch one!

[Harry Eales]

Hello Jen,

It would help if you could give us a wingspan dimension, size is important and if the body was striped pink and black were the wings also pink. Also, what were the resting characteristics if you saw it land, i.e. were the wings hel vertically together or folded back flat along its body. Every little bit of information helps, even the time of day and habitat type.

Harry

[Allsworth]

Today my wife saw a similar butterfly - almost black on the top and cerise underneath - we live in South Humberside. Anyone have an idea what it was? PLEASE!