Red & Black Butterfly/moth?

[charlieb]

I would google for "red butterfly" and look at some of the images that come up, or go to a tropical butterfly house - sounds like an escapee.

[PRG]

Originally Posted by Frumble

House said:
Vivid scarlet wings with black edge and the wings were folded upwards at rest. About 1.5 inch wingspan, no antennae noticed. Seen East Sussex 20th May. I thought that I would find its identity on the web!!!

I saw exectly the same description of butterfly.. It was not a cinnebar or small copper and bizzarely enough I can not find a picture of this butterfly either. Strange almost a year later to the day and I see the same description flying in an industrial estate in Birmingham. House is correct none of the pictures match. The red of the wings was so vibrant thats the only reason I came in search of what it was.. have never seen one before.

Hi House / Frum … you’ll be please to know you’re not seeing things… I saw the same butterfly about a month ago , and have been trying to find out what is was since then ..
I’m in West Sussex

[Azure]

I am so pleased to hear about this. I was camping in West Sussex at the weekend and saw this butterfly too. I have been searching around to identify it but cannot find a picture or name anywhere. Lets hope someone out there can enlighten us.

[Jason Green]

Hi Azure, and welcome to WAB

It may be an escapee. Can you describe your individual?

Take care,

Jason

[Azure]

Thanks for the welcome,
It was about an inch across (maybe a tad bigger), it looked just like a cut out from a childs picture (it wasnt by the way) smooth edged wings, quite bright red with very few markings except around the edges where it had black markings. I tried to look at it as carefully as possible but just expected I would be able to find out what it was easily.
I am presuming it was a butterfly and not a moth (however my knowledge is not great)

[Jason Green]

Thanks for getting back. Could you draw it in colour? That would be great.

[gillycaddy]

I saw a similar butterfly yesterday in Cheshire. It was striking in colour. I've never seen one before in 50+ years, but I remember thinking it was like a cabbage white in size and shape. Haven't found a picture yet. I've looked through this string and it isn't any of the previous suggestions....

[bladon]

I saw a butterfly like this in my garden in Hertfordshire today. It was a vivid red with black edging along it's wings and was hovering over the grass for several minutes . I have never seen a butterfly like it before and hope someone will identify it. I tried to take a picture but it had gone when I came back with the camera! I will keep an eye open for it and hope to see it again and take a picture.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by bladon

I saw a butterfly like this in my garden in Hertfordshire today. It was a vivid red with black edging along it's wings and was hovering over the grass for several minutes . I have never seen a butterfly like it before and hope someone will identify it. I tried to take a picture but it had gone when I came back with the camera! I will keep an eye open for it and hope to see it again and take a picture.

Your description of the flight/colours makes me think it was one of the Burnet Moths; Narrow-bordered 5-spot + 6-spot being the 2 common, widespread species. They can look like butterfly like (+ similarly have clubbed antennae), but no European butterfly really fits the description!

[frannymc]

I joined the forum this evening in an attempt to identify the same beautiful creature that so many have described. I saw it today on some waste ground, in Wirral, near some vivid red poppies. I was amazed at it's red colour (which mimicked the colour of the poppies) and the black line at the wingtips. No camera with me I'm afraid.