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Black butterfly

InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
in Wildlife gardening
I've just found a small and totally back butterfly hanging from the hall ceiling.  I carefully took it outside to release it and it flew off OK.  I've done a quick Google but can't find any details of it.

Anyone any idea what it was?  I didn't take a picture as I wanted to handle it as little as possible.
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    A bit late in the year for one of these but it would be my best guess. They're easily confused with butterflies  https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/chimney-sweeper
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    edited September 2023
    wild edges said:
    A bit late in the year for one of these but it would be my best guess. They're easily confused with butterflies  https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/chimney-sweeper

    The ones in the picture show a bit of white on the tip of the wings, but the one I found had no white anywhere, it was just a smooth jet black.  It could have been a moth of course, but it was 100% black.

    I should have taken a picture before I handled it!
    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    This late in the season the wings can be quite worn and the tips could have gone. I'm not sure what else it could be.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    One here a couple of weeks ago ( coastal Somerset ). First time I can recall seeing them and I too assumed a Butterfly so thanks for posting.
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    LittleGreyRabbit said:
    I have, in the past, seen plenty of Chimney Sweepers without the white tips to their wings, so I agree with wild edges that it's the most likely candidate.

    I now tend to agree with Wild Edges:

    The chimney sweeper is recognised by its sooty-black body and wings, with a white fringe around the tips of the forewings. They fade to a brownish-black over time.


    Most unusual and quite striking.  I've never seen one before and we get quite a lot of butterflies and moths in the garden.

    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited September 2023
     sorry missed size.
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