largest butterfly i have seen in uk

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pete_dl
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Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:01 am

largest butterfly i have seen in uk

Post by pete_dl »

This morning I was rather excited to see the largest butterfly I have ever seen in the UK. It had at least 10cm wingspan and was bright blue on the upper surface. I could not match it to any UK blue butterflies. I have attached a blurry photo of it resting in my London garden.
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CallumMac
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Location: East Yorks

Re: largest butterfly i have seen in uk

Post by CallumMac »

Hi Pete. Your picture shows a Blue Morpho - a tropical species from Latin America. Your individual is most likely to have escaped from a local butterfly house or zoo, or perhaps to have been released deliberately by a misguided breeder or wedding party!
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Padfield
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Re: largest butterfly i have seen in uk

Post by Padfield »

Most years, I feel sorry for these tropical escapees. Summer 2018 in London might be a taste of Brazil for this one!

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pete_dl
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Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:01 am

Re: largest butterfly i have seen in uk

Post by pete_dl »

thanks for the ID. London zoo is not far from me, so maybe they are missing one. :)

It made my day!

Pete.
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David M
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Re: largest butterfly i have seen in uk

Post by David M »

Padfield wrote:Most years, I feel sorry for these tropical escapees. Summer 2018 in London might be a taste of Brazil for this one!
Indeed. It should feel quite at home whilst this hot spell lasts.
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