Green Leaf Butterfly

[catthebruce]

I walked into my bathroom today to find a weird looking butterfly on the skirting board next to the toilet, how it go in the house alone I don't know, but after I picked it up I guessed it wasn't from England. So after some research and carefully placing it in a jar with a book on top with a gap so it could breath, I found out it was a Leaf Butterfly, a green one! But from my researched all I could see was that they're found in India, Asia, Madagascar and New Guinea? It's far too cold now in England for it to survive surely? And what is it doing here? I doubted that it migrated since the time of year that it's here, with temperatures dropping by the day.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me how it might of got here, though through import might be one solution, and if I should release it or not, since it will surely die? Any info would be appreciated.

[triops]

Your butterfly (could it be a moth?)could be identified from a photograph, but not from your description. The leaf butterflies from the tropics are so named because they resemble a dead (brown) leaf and don't come in green! Migration from those areas is unlikely (perhaps you brought it back hiding in your suitcase).
Actually, the most likely explanation is a hibernating Brimstone butterfly. Release it immediately, or at least keep it in its jar outside in a sheltered place (it needs to stay cold) until you photograph it.(and post the picture...........WAB members will identify it immediately).

[catthebruce]

Thanks for the reply, it's definitely a butterfly, it looks like this which looks very similar to the brimstone fly you mentioned! so perhaps it's a brimstone fly, though I've never heard of those, hah. - green leaf butterfly | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

If I let it go now it'll probably die, since there are no flowers, they're all dead unless they're indoors. I even bought some flowers and put them in the jar I've got him in, with a gap for air of course. I haven't been anywhere for it to get in my suitcase (if it was a leaf butterfly).

[triops]

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If I let it go now it'll probably die, since there are no flowers, they're all dead unless they're indoors. I even bought some flowers and put them in the jar I've got him in, with a gap for air of course. I haven't been anywhere for it to get in my suitcase (if it was a leaf butterfly).[/quote]

It's a butterfly called the Brimstone. Mostly seen in the spring or autumn. Release it! NOW! It will die in captivity. This butterfly often hibernates (spends the winter) deep in Ivy, and wakes up in the spring. It is essential it goes outside in the cold. It will survive our lowest winter temperatures.
Google it for more information.