Black with gold stipes and red underneath.

[Barry]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site.
I live in Ivybridge Devon Just 10 miles from Plymouth. Today, 31-7-2011 I saw a fantastic butterfly (it looked to neat to be a moth).

It was about 40 to 50mm as it was griping a car tyre with wings folded up. It looked black and had what I think were gold (you may call them orange) stripes going from top of wing to body. When it flew off, the under belly was red or the red side of orange.

I have looked on so many sites to see if I could identify it but to no avail. I am in my 60's and have never seen anything like it.

So I am asking you, the specialists, What Was It?

[ChrisC]

from your description i'd have a look at jersey tiger moth

Chris

[Barry]

Thank you Chris,
I have looked at a photo of the Jersey. The stripes on the one I saw were more defined and narrower.
My instant thought when I first saw it was, gold thread on black velvet, if that helps.

[MikeOxon]

I'm pretty well stumped by this one, unless there are any butterfly farms or tropical houses nearby. If so, then a heliconid is a possibility - perhaps the Zebra longwing butterfly, Heliconius charithonia.

There's a photo on Wikimedia - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helic ... honius.jpg The bands can look a lot more golden yellow than in that photo.

Incidentally, there are several very colourful day-flying moths that could certainly be described as 'neat'!

Mike

[Rogerdodge]

Buckfastleigh Butterfly House is only 10 miles away to the north east.

[Barry]

Dear Mike,
thank you for your lead. I looked at the photos on google as well as yours and found this one.;
"Heliconius charitonius. Zebra Heliconius; Zebra Longwing". It is on flicker but I cant transfer the photograph. It looked exactly as I saw it with wings up together.
Would this butterfly also have a red or orange under belly.
Sorry if I am not explaining myself very well. I am not a butterfly hobbiest but thought your site was the best to answer my question. And I am sorry to refer to moths as not as 'neat' as butterflys. Incidently, at work today on a white wall was a 'Jersey Tiger Moth'. Up untill yesterday I would not have know that, so it is true, you do learn something everty day. Thank you to all.
Barry.

[MikeOxon]

Hello Barry,

I'm pleased we seem to have solved your mystery. If you stick around on this site, you will soon become a butterfly enthusiast!

Mike