Britain's most beautiful butterfly

Zeus · 19/03/12 - 14:12

Which is it? Here are some suggestions:

Red Admiral
Peacock
Purple Emperor
Large & Small Cabbage White
Orange Tip
Large & Small Tortoiseshell
Adonis Blue

Tom_Tit · 19/03/12 - 14:13

Good grief. These threads get worse. Are people really that bored?

[Deleted User] · 19/03/12 - 14:16

The blue one that lodges in ant's nests.

Glowbot · 19/03/12 - 14:17

This thread is offensive.

Jane Doh! · 19/03/12 - 14:17

Is this a trick question?

[Deleted User] · 19/03/12 - 14:19

For me, these little benign threads make a welcome change.

There has been a lot of anger on here lately. And I am guilty too.

[Deleted User] · 19/03/12 - 14:20

I dunno, but my cats dismembered a moth last night which was so big that at first I thought they had a bat.

[Deleted User] · 19/03/12 - 14:22

ninjahandfriend wrote: »

I dunno, but my cats dismembered a moth last night which was so big that at first I thought they had a bat.

Aaaaaw I bet it was an elephant hawkmoth! Naughty kitty!

Deb Arkle · 19/03/12 - 14:23

ninjahandfriend wrote: »

I dunno, but my cats dismembered a moth last night which was so big that at first I thought they had a bat.

:eek:
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/8/3/lalalaim128622879379111832.jpg

Picto · 19/03/12 - 14:23

I do like a Painted Lady but the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has a special place in my heart.

My friend liked a Large Copper but unfortunately they are now all extinct.

Sigurd · 19/03/12 - 14:24

Apparently the large tortoiseshell used to be common in the south of England but is now thought to be extinct in the British Isles.

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=polychloros

Of the common butterflies, I'm always pleased to see a red admiral, though I suppose its wing markings lack the subtlety of some others.

scotch · 19/03/12 - 14:27

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thekrankis/5797444054/

small tortoiseshell :cool:

CLL Dodge · 19/03/12 - 14:27

Papilio machaon

Anne Droyd · 19/03/12 - 14:30

I just dont know which one I like the moth

[Deleted User] · 19/03/12 - 14:39

RoseMaybud wrote: »

Aaaaaw I bet it was an elephant hawkmoth! Naughty kitty!

It was more like, and may well have been this.

They always catch weird shit. The worst was probably the time one of them caught a hummingbird and deposited it in the washing machine. It went on a boil wash with my whites, sadly........

Zeus · 19/03/12 - 16:24

Sigurd wrote: »

Apparently the large tortoiseshell used to be common in the south of England but is now thought to be extinct in the British Isles.

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=polychloros

Of the common butterflies, I'm always pleased to see a red admiral, though I suppose its wing markings lack the subtlety of some others.

That's such a shame about the Large Tortoiseshell. It used to be everywhere. Red Admirals and Peacocks were relatively rare.

Pumping Iron · 19/03/12 - 16:30

Little blue or Swallowtail are my nominations. Little blue just because you can't help smile when you see one and the Swallowtail just because its so impressive. Good topic OP

Wayne Dibbly · 19/03/12 - 16:32

Zeus wrote: »

Which is it? Here are some suggestions:

Red Admiral
Peacock
Purple Emperor
Large & Small Cabbage White
Orange Tip
Large & Small Tortoiseshell
Adonis Blue

Racist.
You cannot discriminate on the grounds of colour.

Victoria Sponge · 19/03/12 - 16:33

I love butterflies. They are my third favourite animal. Please post pics if you are nominating so I can see, it is too time consuming for me to google them myself. Thanks x

Paradise_Lost · 19/03/12 - 16:38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XNntPIzxfw

Speak-Softly · 19/03/12 - 16:45

I always like seeing Brimstones, they emerge so early in the year and are the first relatively big butterfly around.
Also could there be a more apt name?

It also says that all "butter" flies are named after the Brimstone (it being yellow like butter).

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=brimstone+butterfly&hl=en&sa=X&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=x1-ZhoOoUsOOsM:&imgrefurl=http://fleetpond.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/butterfly-of-the-month-april-the-brimstone/&docid=-m_nzqxTIhSS5M&imgurl=http://fleetpond.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/butterfly-brimstone.jpg&w=800&h=524&ei=KFRnT8PoFYuq8QOX0YymCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=486&vpy=14&dur=1484&hovh=182&hovw=278&tx=153&ty=104&sig=101766110222869723593&page=1&tbnh=113&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1024&bih=600

Victoria Sponge · 19/03/12 - 16:48

Speak-Softly wrote: »

I always like seeing Brimstones, they emerge so early in the year and are the first relatively big butterfly around.
Also could there be a more apt name?

It also says that all "butter" flies are named after the Brimstone (it being yellow like butter).

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=brimstone+butterfly&hl=en&sa=X&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=x1-ZhoOoUsOOsM:&imgrefurl=http://fleetpond.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/butterfly-of-the-month-april-the-brimstone/&docid=-m_nzqxTIhSS5M&imgurl=http://fleetpond.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/butterfly-brimstone.jpg&w=800&h=524&ei=KFRnT8PoFYuq8QOX0YymCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=486&vpy=14&dur=1484&hovh=182&hovw=278&tx=153&ty=104&sig=101766110222869723593&page=1&tbnh=113&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1024&bih=600

Wow, that's pretty! I've never seen one of those. I've only ever seen the boring cabbage ones and the almost as boring black and orange ones.

Pumping Iron · 19/03/12 - 16:49

Victoria Sponge wrote: »

I love butterflies. They are my third favourite animal. Please post pics if you are nominating so I can see, it is too time consuming for me to google them myself. Thanks x

Swallowtail....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72l1geL9FsY/TicZoqHSpgI/AAAAAAAAADA/AYrPXgmKQK4/s1600/lep_tiger_swallowtail_butterfly06.JPG

Little Blue....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2665802936_68faf09e4e.jpg

Victoria Sponge · 19/03/12 - 16:51

Pumping Iron wrote: »

Swallowtail....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72l1geL9FsY/TicZoqHSpgI/AAAAAAAAADA/AYrPXgmKQK4/s1600/lep_tiger_swallowtail_butterfly06.JPG

Little Blue....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2665802936_68faf09e4e.jpg

Oh wow, they are stunning!

Speak-Softly · 19/03/12 - 16:57

Victoria Sponge wrote: »

Wow, that's pretty! I've never seen one of those. I've only ever seen the boring cabbage ones and the almost as boring black and orange ones.

You live in London?
Do you have a garden?

If so, try planting some "micklemass daisies". They are very late flowering and tend to attract butterflies at the end of the season trying to fatten up for winter.

We used to get all the Red Admirals, Peacocks, Tortershells ect. coming to the flowers late September.

Or plant a Buddelia (sp), that always atrracts butterflies if there are any around. But make sure it's planted in the sun, not shade.

Victoria Sponge · 19/03/12 - 17:01

Speak-Softly wrote: »

You live in London?
Do you have a garden?

If so, try planting some "micklemass daisies". They are very late flowering and tend to attract butterflies at the end of the season trying to fatten up for winter.

We used to get all the Red Admirals, Peacocks, Tortershells ect. coming to the flowers late September.

Or plant a Buddelia (sp), that always atrracts butterflies if there are any around. But make sure it's planted in the sun, not shade.

London yes, garden no. Only a balcony. Do you think I could have a micklmass plant on the balcony? I want to lure the nice butterflies in!

Hey there!

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Britain's most beautiful butterfly

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