Butterfly

[foxyferret]

I have just seen a butterfly in my back garden that I have never seen before. It was not the size of a normal butterfly, like a big moth. It was bright red all over the wings apart from a black outline around each wing. The red was a cross between crimson and magenta and I was wondering if anyone knows what this butterfly/moth is. I think it is more likely to be a butterfly as it was out during full sun around lunchtime. Thanks.

[tenrec]

Sorry I can't help. Which area of the country do you live in?

[tenrec]

When the butterfly was resting were its wings open or shut?

[Kiki-frog]

Might it have been a cinnabar moth? They have red and black wings, and the pattern varies, so it's probably possible to have one with just a black outline on the red.

http://www.rspb.org.u...z/c/cinnabarmoth.aspx

[Frank97]

That's what I was thinking.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5423

[emeritus]

Just about to suggest the same as Kiki-Frog

[Frank97]

Meant to say, the one I posted is similar to the Cinnabar but comes out more in the day.

[foxyferret]

Thank you everyone, you are right, that is exactly what I saw, I am in Cambridge tenrec. I had just never seen one before, what a lovely creature.