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Butterfly identification help

JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 934
in Wildlife gardening
I briefly saw a striking butterfly on my terrace today. It had symmetrical black and white stripes on its underside of the wings and I’m sure I got a flash of bright orange or red on the top when it suddenly fluttered out of sight (really fast). Any ideas what it could have been? Most of the identification photos concentrate on the top of the wings which I did not get a good look at.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,538
    Could it have been a red underwing moth?

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,074
    Do you get the scarce swallowtail that far north?
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 934
    Nope neither of these. The stripes were really stark and a definite black and white/cream, hopefully it will come back as it was on my mini buddlia which is just getting into full flower.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,788
    My first thought was a Magpie moth, but of course as a moth it would rest with its wings folded so you wouldn’t see the underside ...
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 934
    After much research I think it may have been a tiger moth. 
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 767
    One of these? With the tiny bit of red visible on the body, which is full red when the wings are open? It's a scarlet tiger moth, I had loads a few weeks ago. Here's one resting on an allium...


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