Ok padfield, thanks for that...it's been active for about 90 mins now and looks like it's gone back to "sleep"?, that's a good description of it's state for me...every day is a school day I didn't know that butterflies lived for such a long time

Thanks dave...I've just cut open a plum and it's showing an interest...sunny days are rare up here at this time of year, but will have a look at tomorrows forecast, I'm amazed at the longevity of the creature, and I'd like to give it a good chance to survive

Evening, and please forgive me as I am so far out my depth here. I have stumbled upon your website/forum by chance after being a "host" to what I've (hopefully) identified as a small tortoiseshell butterfly. I noticed it, with wings closed sitting on a picture frame in my bedroom in May/Ju...