Red & Black flying insect what is it?

[babilula]

Today I found an insect that I thought at first was a small mal-formed butterfly, but the wings are too small. It has a thick round body dark iridescent blue and two pairs of wings. 1 pair are red with black edges and the other black with red spots. It has antenae like a butterfly. Can anyone tell me what it is please?

[Jonners]

Could it be a cinnabar moth:


or one of the burnets:

[babilula]

Thanks so much for your reply. It certainly looks like the 2nd picture a burnet? which I have never heard of. Are they fairly common? I have never seen one before, but maybe they are flying around me all the time and I dont notice until I find a dead one I can look at

[Jonners]

The burnet moths (five spot or six spot) are not as common as the cinnabar moth, but are not uncommon. I think they are a really striking moth and am always pleased to see one, which happens to be not very often, so well done!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jonners

The burnet moths (five spot or six spot) are not as common as the cinnabar moth, but are not uncommon. I think they are a really striking moth and am always pleased to see one, which happens to be not very often, so well done!

Around me Narrow-bordered 5-spot + 6-spot Burnets are far more abundant + widespread than Cinnabars, though I do see a few of the latter.

[Jonners]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Around me Narrow-bordered 5-spot + 6-spot Burnets are far more abundant + widespread than Cinnabars, though I do see a few of the latter.

Interesting point Aeshna5 - I guess it depends on where you are. We see ragwort round here smothered in "maggots in football jerseys", but I've never discovered a burnet moth caterpillar, and the result is far more cinnabars than burnets. But that will just be a local geographical anecdote, rather than a statement of countrywide fact. So keep looking and hopefully Babilula you will see lots more of both

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by Jonners

Interesting point Aeshna5 - I guess it depends on where you are. We see ragwort round here smothered in "maggots in football jerseys", but I've never discovered a burnet moth caterpillar, and the result is far more cinnabars than burnets. But that will just be a local geographical anecdote, rather than a statement of countrywide fact. So keep looking and hopefully Babilula you will see lots more of both

Very interesting! We're in the same region Jonners, yet where I go I see many Burnets, but I also see loads of the Ragwort with Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on.

[Jonners]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Very interesting! We're in the same region Jonners, yet where I go I see many Burnets, but I also see loads of the Ragwort with Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on.

Indeed we are in the same region Nick. I obviously need to get out more