Yesterday I saw the most lovely red butterfly. It was a deep fuchsia red and quite stunning. I was only about 1 and 1/2 inches wing span but I couldn't find it in my butterfly book, Any ideas ? and is it rare as I have never seen a truly red one before. No markings, just pure red.
Thanks
Elle could it have been a cinnabar moth which has all red hind wings?
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/cinnabar_moth.htm
Thanks Flighty for the suggestion of the Cinnabar moth, Afraid not. The colour is right but this was a true butterfly with its wings wide open. I shall keep looking and if I go to the same place again I shall have to take my camera. Fingers crossed.
Thanks again
Ellie.
Ellie in that case it's worth contacting Butterfly Conservation with the details to see what they have to say as it may be really rare or unusual!
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/
I guess its an escapee from captivity.
I would agree with the suggestion that it is a Cinnebar moth. This is one of the moths which is seen flying during the day. It will also rest with its wings open just like a butterfly. The caterpillars are very distinctive black and yellow and usually feed on Ragwort and Groundsel.
How strange! I saw exactly the same thing here in France! Last week, in among my potatoes, a most beautiful scarlet butterfly, quite small, about 3 or 4 cm wide, I had never seen one like it.
Maybe it was a Cinnabar moth: looked similar to http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Tyria_jacobaeae_%28ento-csiro-au%29.jpg/220px-thumb.jpg