The one I saw had more a rounded wing as far as I could tell and was around the size of a meadow brown. Just wondering - could the one you saw have been a male cherry moth http://webzoom.freewebs.com/saturnids/Web%20Callosamia%20promethea.jpg as they have long wings? Thanks for the suggestion Eris,...

Dave McCormick wrote:Could it be Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spicebush_Swallowtail if not I am stumped

Sorry Dave, I think we're both stumped now! . It was black and the wing was definitely more of a broad, elongated oval than the swallowtail shape.

Wondering would it be a red admiral? They have a bluish mark on underside: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Red%20Admiral if not I am not sure, curious t know that this has been seen in two different locations. Hi Dave :). I can't speak for Eris bit for mine it's totally t...

No native European species have that appearance! Do you have any local butterfly farms? If so, it might be worth seeing what species they stock (usually a relatively small number). The number of exotic black butterflies with trailing irridescent blue in the whole world is quite large!! Hope it come...

I'm currently going with the escapee theory and I've had a mooch around online and I am 99% certain the shape of the butterfly was closest to 'Heliconius' family. Do we have any European or UK butterflies close to that shape?

Thanks Guy :). It didn't have the 'swallow tail', that's what flummoxed me, it was more like two large, broad 'tear drops'**. The same thing happened to me about two summers ago with a bettle that had huge antenna - frustrated the wotsit out of me trying to find out the species! haha. **EDIT = The f...

Today I was in my garden when a black butterfly lolled past me. It was completely black (or maybe an extremely dark blue/purple?) and had an iridescent blue patch on the rear of it's wing (only visible when it caught the sun). The wing shape was the same as a monarch, ie 'long' and the only way I ca...

Hi MuNgo

Hi Gaina Welcome to the forums !! Does any of your art involve butterflies ? Charles :) Hello Charles :) Not so far, I am predominantly a video artist and photographer but I have the whole summer to contemplate my next piece so I might just investigate butterflies - thanks for the inspiration! :)

Hello Pete

Denise wrote:Hi Gaina, and welcome to the site.
I live in the same region as you and we have some wonderful butterflies.
I hope you find this site and it's members as friendly and helpful as I do.
Hope to see you here again soon.
Denise

Hello Denise, thanks for the welcome

I do hope I'm posting in the correct section as its my first post :). My name is Gaina, I'm 36 and I live in North Somerset. I was directed to this site by a member of the Wild About Britain forum, of which I am also a member. I am currently studying a Foundation Degree in Applied Art and Design at ...