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Strange Butterfly sighted at All Saints Church allotments!
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:50 pm
by Glostopcat
A strange looking butterfly seen at All Saints Church allotments in Cheltenham late Monday afternoon. At first I thought this was a speckled wood aberration but it was the size of a silver-washed fritillary and twice the size of a normal speckled wood. It was spotted sunning itself on the ivy in the hedgerow. Apologies for the poor quality photograph, it was taken with a mobile phone as i had no camera handy! I've looked through lots of images of European butterflies both in books and online and i can find nothing that resembles this individual. Any ideas what this mystery species could be?
Re: Strange Butterfly sighted at All Saints Church allotments!
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:59 pm
by Tony Moore
This must be an escape or an illegal release. It is a Junonia species, possibly Junonia lemonias, the Lemon Pansy, found in India and the far east. Astonishing in UK!
Tony M.
Re: Strange Butterfly sighted at All Saints Church allotments!
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:20 pm
by Glostopcat
Many thanks for identifying it Tony, I guess it must have been an illegal release. It was a huge surprise to find it on my allotment!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Re: Strange Butterfly sighted at All Saints Church allotments!
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:42 pm
by David M
Think I'd have had a seizure if I'd seen that!
What a surprise.