Pink Butterflies

Seen a pink butterfly? Have a look through these. The chances are it was a moth - even it was flying during the day. There are no native (to the UK) species of butterfly that are pink, although a few tropical species kept in butterfly houses are.

Large moths

Bigger than an inch/2.5cm

• 
  Elephant Hawk-moth
  Deilephila elpenor
• 
  Rosy Footman
  Miltochrista miniata
• 
  Small Elephant Hawk-moth
  Deilephila porcellus
• 
  The Cinnabar
  Tyria jacobaeae
• 
  Ruby Tiger
  Phragmatobia fuliginosa
• 
  Garden Tiger
  Arctia caja
• 
  Cream-spot Tiger
  Arctia villica
• 
  Clouded Buff
  Diacrisia sannio
• 
  Jersey Tiger
  Euplagia quadripunctaria
• 
  Scarlet Tiger
  Callimorpha dominula
• 
  Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet
  Zygaena lonicerae
• 
  Pink-barred Sallow
  Xanthia togata
• 
  Privet Hawkmoth
  Sphinx ligustri

Small moths

Smaller than an inch/2.5cm

• 
  Cochylis flaviciliana
• 
  Oncocera semirubella
• 
  Celypha rosaceana
• 
  Small Purple-barred
  Phytometra viridaria
• 
  Pyrausta sanguinalis
• 
  Pyrausta purpuralis
• 
  Pyrausta aurata
• 
  Purple-bordered Gold
  Idaea muricata

Foreign moths and butterflies

These species occur outside of the UK, although may occur as escapees from butterfly farms or as accidental imports.

• 
  Spanish Moth
  Xanthopastis timais
• 
  The Postman
  Heliconius melpomene
• 
  Southern Crimson Moth
  Pyrausta inornatalis
• 
  Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth
  Anisota virginiensis
• 
  Rosy Maple Moth
  Dryocampa rubicunda
• 
  Raspberry Wave Moth
  Leptostales laevitaria
• 
  Haematopis grataria
• 
  Pyrausta tyralis

Thanks to the following for use of their images:

• Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor - Image courtesy of RATAEDL @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40635353@N00/
• Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata - Image courtesy of polandeze @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/polandeze/
• Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus Image courtesy of troubleatmill @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/troubleatmill/
• The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae - Image courtesy of Richard Carter @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/gruts/
• Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa - Image courtesy of pondman2 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/14847071@N05/
• Garden Tiger Arctia caja - Image courtesy of willapalens @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/76798465@N00/
• Cream-spot Tiger Arctia villica - Image courtesy of bonushenricus @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/10688869@N03/
• Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio - Image courtesy of Pengannel @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengannel/
• Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria - Image courtesy of jpockele @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpockele/
• Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula - Image courtesy of Pengannel @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengannel/
• Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae - Image courtesy of Dave ® @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-rogers/
• Pink-barred Sallow Xanthia togata - Image courtesy of naturalhistoryman @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturalhistoryman/
• Privet Hawkmoth Sphinx ligustri - Image courtesy of nutmeg66 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachel_s/
• Cochylis flaviciliana - Image courtesy of Jan Haseler
• Oncocera semirubella - Image courtesy of dhobern @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/
• Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria - Image courtesy of Strange Ones @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/strangeones/
• Pyrausta sanguinalis - Image courtesy of Bárbol @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/10770266@N04/
• Pyrausta purpuralis - Image courtesy of Ombrosoparacloucycle @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/30063276@N02/
• Pyrausta aurata - Image courtesy of Samurai303 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackdove/
• Purple-bordered Gold Idaea muricata - Image courtesy of dhobern @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/
• Spanish Moth Xanthopastis timais - Image courtesy of E_Journeys @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268343@N00/
• The Postman Heliconius melpomene - Image courtesy of Tjflex2 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflex/
• Southern Crimson Moth Pyrausta inornatalis - Image courtesy of nikkorsnapper @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pitmanra/
• Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth Anisota virginiensis - Image courtesy of Old Shoe Woman @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/
• Rosy Maple Moth Dryocampa rubicunda - Image courtesy of zen @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/
• Raspberry Wave Moth Leptostales laevitaria - Image courtesy of smccann @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadmike/
• Haematopis grataria - Image courtesy of urtica @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/urtica/
• Pyrausta tyralis - Image courtesy of Mean and Pinchy @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanandpinchy/
• Celypha rosaceana - Image courtesy of Jon Clifton

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