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Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 6:03 pm
by 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
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 6:17 pm
by Allan.W.
Hello Carrie Dancer
Wasn,t this one was it ? Pyrausta purpuralis ...............the Mint moth. Regards Allan.W.
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 5:24 am
by 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.
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 6:06 am
by 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.
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 12:27 pm
by 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
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 3:49 pm
by 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.
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 4:09 pm
by 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.
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 10:04 am
by 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
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 1:44 pm
by Roger Gibbons
We seem to be running out of options - the description vaguely matches Scarlet Tiger, even if the size doesn't.
Roger
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 3:18 pm
by carriedancer
Not this one either - sorry! Thank you for trying!
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 1:49 pm
by 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
Re: Can't identify tiny butterfly in my garden
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:53 pm
by 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
![Sad :-(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)