Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

In message .com,
pea_thrower writes
Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

A far as I am aware there are no plain black butterflies native to
Britain, however, there are some which could perhaps appear to be black
- the Ringlet, upper wing surface is dark brown, or the Purple
hairstreak which is dark brown (purple in the sun). You may want to
have a look at
http://www.butterflygarden.co.uk/az_butterflies.htm or the links at
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/links.htm
--
Robert

The message
from Robert contains these words:

In message .com,
pea_thrower writes
Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

A far as I am aware there are no plain black butterflies native to
Britain, however, there are some which could perhaps appear to be black
- the Ringlet, upper wing surface is dark brown, or the Purple
hairstreak which is dark brown (purple in the sun). You may want to
have a look at
http://www.butterflygarden.co.uk/az_butterflies.htm or the links at
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/links.htm
--
Robert

Ringlets have certainly been flying in the last couple of weeks rond
here (S. Lincs) and appear black. They actually have a couple of faint
spots on each wing but they rarely settle and you can spend ages waiting
for them to be still enpough to see clearly.

Janet G

Janet Galpin wrote:
The message
from Robert contains these words:

In message .com,
pea_thrower writes
Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

A far as I am aware there are no plain black butterflies native to
Britain, however, there are some which could perhaps appear to be black
- the Ringlet, upper wing surface is dark brown, or the Purple
hairstreak which is dark brown (purple in the sun). You may want to
have a look at
http://www.butterflygarden.co.uk/az_butterflies.htm or the links at
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/links.htm
--
Robert

Ringlets have certainly been flying in the last couple of weeks rond
here (S. Lincs) and appear black. They actually have a couple of faint
spots on each wing but they rarely settle and you can spend ages waiting
for them to be still enpough to see clearly.

Janet G

Thank you Janet & Robert, the mystery remains unsolved. The butterfly
I've seen that most resembles mine is a black swallowtail, but.........
I don't believe it can be found in the uk and I could not spot any
markings whatsoever on it.

Malcolm wrote:

In article .com,
pea_thrower writes
Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

Although no pure black unmarked butterfly occurs in the UK, it could be
one of a number of very dark ones. As with all identification requests,
it is helpful if you can say roughly where you live - county or nearest
town. Some species are widespread, others are very localised, so your
whereabouts may help pin it down.

Are you sure that it is a butterfly and not a moth? I only ask because
I have difficulty in telling which from what.

Malcolm wrote:
In article .com,
pea_thrower writes
Can somebody please help me to identify a black butterfly I've seen a
couple of times over the past month in my garden. As far as I've been
able to ascertain, it is jet black with no other markings (although it
won't stay still longer enough for me to be certain).

Although no pure black unmarked butterfly occurs in the UK, it could be
one of a number of very dark ones. As with all identification requests,
it is helpful if you can say roughly where you live - county or nearest
town. Some species are widespread, others are very localised, so your
whereabouts may help pin it down.

--
Malcolm

Malcolm,

I live in Dorset.

Cheers

On 6 Jul 2006 06:37:39 -0700,
wrote:


To be honest, I'm not certain if it's a moth or butterfly. I've only
seen it in broad daylight and it seems to be "built" like a butterfly.

Moths settle with their wings spread, butterflies close their wings on
settling. It would also help to know what plants you saw it on or
near.

Pam in Bristol

Malcolm wrote:
In article , Pam Moore
writes
On 6 Jul 2006 06:37:39 -0700,
wrote:


To be honest, I'm not certain if it's a moth or butterfly. I've only
seen it in broad daylight and it seems to be "built" like a butterfly.

Moths settle with their wings spread, butterflies close their wings on
settling. It would also help to know what plants you saw it on or
near.

Sadly, that's not quite a 100% guide as a few moths settle with their
wings spread just as a few butterflies close their wings on settling.

If you can persuade one to sit still long enough to check, then all
butterflies have antennae with club-shaped endings, while no moth does.
Though I admit that isn't all that helpful!

--
Malcolm

Unfortunately, the only way I can think of to make the little bugger
settle, is liable to render it's antennae (and the rest of it for that
matter) unrecognisable.

Malcolm wrote:


In article , Pam Moore
writes
On 6 Jul 2006 06:37:39 -0700,
wrote:


To be honest, I'm not certain if it's a moth or butterfly. I've only
seen it in broad daylight and it seems to be "built" like a butterfly.

Moths settle with their wings spread, butterflies close their wings on
settling. It would also help to know what plants you saw it on or
near.

Sadly, that's not quite a 100% guide as a few moths settle with their
wings spread just as a few butterflies close their wings on settling.

If you can persuade one to sit still long enough to check, then all
butterflies have antennae with club-shaped endings, while no moth does.
Though I admit that isn't all that helpful!



What you say is true Malcolm, but the trouble is that the Burnet moths have
nearly clubs shaped endings and they fly in the day. Inexperienced people
might have difficulty with that.

The true difference is the presence of a hook and clasp structure called a
frenulum holding the fore and hind wings together.

However, The australian Regent Skipper butterfly has a frenulum structure in
the Male only.


Neil Jones
http://www.butterflyguy.com/

found your question while looking for a name for the first all Black Butterflys we had ever seen. On Saturday 31st August 2019 while out walking our dog at the lake in Warminster, my wife and I were astonished to see a totally black butterfly we had never seen one before. It fluttered around quite close to us for two or three minutes and we could clearly see that it was jet black with no other markings at all. Just to put the icing on the cake it was joined by another one and the pair flew off together.