Blinded by Knowledge

[rutineli]

I am but a simple man, but one who likes to take interest in the world around me, so when I spotted a buttefly in my garden the other day that had managed to evade my inquisitive eye for the whole of my 56 years, quite naturally I wished to learn more.

The obvious course of action was to navigate through some related websites until I came accross said beastie. WRONG!!! but big time WRONG!!!

If one is not a Latin speaker (contradiction in terms I know) and fully aware of the name which has been ascribed to your never seen before crawlie, by those who do (but cannot really) then you are on a hiding to nothing, or, to be more exact, an afternoon and evening (I suspect) of trawl and click through the Latin nomenclature of the butterfly and possibly "moth", world.

Now my particular specimen was quite small - that is smaller than a Totoiseshell (butterfly that is) and the leading two thirds of it's wings was a spectacular shade that was somewhere between tangerine and cerise.

The rear third of the wings was a surprisingly bright shade of olive green.

There did appear to be some marbling on the green where the two colours met but the it was a bit quick for reliable memorising by my slowing brain.

Who of my respected readers can either identify the creature, (web picture thereof preferred) or recommend a sane site that will allow me to continue my search without a degree in the classics.

I know that I can rely upon you. rutineli

[sddsddean]

How about a Clouded Yellow? http://www.butterflygarden.co.uk/butterflies/clouded_yellow.htm

If not, try going to the home page of this site and clicking on as many 'matches' as you can.

[sddsddean]

Great minds ...etc Pickle!

[Cetti]

Hi rutineli, Your part of the world would be really helpful as your beautiful and very colourful butterfly sounds as it might not be from the UK.

The only one that comes near your description in this country is this one - the Green Hairstreak. It's smaller than the Tortoiseshell at 33mm and is around now but I'm foxed with the cerise/tangerine bit. The Brimstone is plentiful at the moment but very yellow, although can look greeny at times in the right light. Really intrigued, so please let us know when you find it.

[dancecaller]

Large Heath? Small heath? Large Copper?Is the Clouded Yellow too big? Or what about a moth? One of the yellow underwings? or copper underwing or are they thewrong way round?

[rutineli]

Thanks to you all for your kind suggestions and help which have made for a very enjoyable day of click and search, but sad to say, the actual beastie of which I have clear memory pictures has not surfaced so far.

I live in Grantham in Lincolnshire if that is any kind of pointer. I have to say that the colours of "my" butterfly were so bright, sharp and distinct that it would be very hard to miss them if they were shown to me again.

I am determined to keep on looking and if by some chance I spot the right one I promise to publish the details - rutineli

[Cetti]

This site might help you in your search as it gives all the native as well as the migrant butterflies to the UK.

[Cetti]

I don't believe it rutineli, the AB site censored my link!

It was part of the Natural History Museum website so I'm afraid you will have to find it and avert your eyes to the offending word ;-)

[rutineli]

I'm sorry people but I have spent hour after hour after hour searching for a sign of the butterfly (or moth ) but I have not even seen a "nearly" that could provide me with a valid excuse to stop searching.

I cannot give up and I cannot carry on. . Another day tomorrow. - rutineli (exhausted)

[Cetti]

There is one last avenue to explore rutineli before I throw in the towel. I'm almost certain your butterfly cannot be a British specimen as the colouring sounds too vivid, so my thoughts turn to an escapee from an exotic collection, private or public perhaps.

There is a Butterfly and Wildlife Park at Spalding. Now my UK geography is appalling so whether that is near Grantham I cannot say but it is something worth considering, don't you think?