Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden

[carriedancer]

Hello,

I've just seen a beautiful and very tiny butterfly in my garden in Sherborne, Dorset, UK. It was only about 1-1.5cm wing span, so very tiny. The rear part of the wings was red with a little yellow spot in the centre, the front part of the wings I think was black (possibly with some red - can't quite remember), with a yellow spot in the centre - but more of a line than a spot. Quite bright colours. It sat on a leaf for me to admire for a bit, but I didn't have my camera sadly.

Any ideas?
Thank you
Carrie

[Allan.W.]

Hello Carrie Dancer
Wasn,t this one was it ? Pyrausta purpuralis ...............the Mint moth. Regards Allan.W.

[aeshna5]

Pyrausta aurita is the species normally called the Mint Moth & the species I think more generally found in gardens. Quite similar to the species suggested above.

[Allan.W.]

Whoops Aeshna5,s quite right ,my mistake ..........................I was on the right lines
Allan.W. take a look at both on the net.

[carriedancer]

Hi all,

Apologies - I had been looking for replies, but for some reason only just found them!

Definitely not the moth pictured / Pyrausta aurita / Pyrausta purpuralis. I'm no expert - but it looked much more butterfly shaped than moth shaped to me. Also not furry like a moth, and very vibrant colours.

So wish I'd got a photo!
Many thanks
Carrie

[Allan.W.]

Bit of a puzzle ,this one Carriedancer ,doesnt fit any of the British butterflies ,and you say 10 -15 mm wingspan ,makes it smaller than Britains smallest butterfly species (Small Blue ) and it doesn,t seem to fit any micro / macro moths either .............odd !
keep your eyes open ! Never Know ,with a bit of luck it may turn up again.
Regards Allan.W.

[Neil Freeman]

If you hadn't mentioned the fact that it had yellow spots and the small wingspan, I might have suggested Cinnabar Moth https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/cinnabar

Cheers,

Neil.

[carriedancer]

Thanks for replies again. This truly is a puzzle! I'd best get back out there and hope to see it again with camera at the ready! Perhaps I've found something new!! I certainly was surprised and amazed when I saw it. Definitely not the red and black moth suggested - lovely though.
Thank you
Carrie

[Roger Gibbons]

We seem to be running out of options - the description vaguely matches Scarlet Tiger, even if the size doesn't.

Roger

[carriedancer]

Not this one either - sorry! Thank you for trying!

[jonhd]

Quite a bit of variety in colouration of https://butterfly-conservation.org/moth ... dered-gold

Found in your area, too. Although, May is a bit early.

Jon

[carriedancer]

Apologies - hadn't checked for messages in a while. It wasn't this one either. How beautiful though! Thanks for posting.
I haven't seen my butterfly again yet