Butterfly identification...

[jipe]

Hello

I found a butterfly just now. About 5 inches of wingspan, very hairy on the body (such as fur).

Anyone can help me to identify this bufferfly ?

Thanks

 

[British Red]

Pretty sure that's an emperor moth - beautiful picture too

 

[jipe]

Thanks very much, British Red !

The butterfly is really impressive in reality, looks like a beast with beautiful art wings. I wondered if it was not a tropical specie who arrived here, to the south of France. It would not be surprising with the global warming...

 

[British Red]

Actually looking again I think your moth is far too large for an emporor - although the markings seem amazingly similar

Check out the females in these photos

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1338

However your moth is twice as big as an Emperor so I must be wrong!

 

[jipe]

Even so, drawings on the wings are clearly distinctive to be recognized as an Emperor...

 

[Pikebite]

I think a Giant Peacock moth.

 

[jipe]

Yep : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnia_pyri

The Giant Peacock Moth has a range that includes the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, southern Turkey, Czech Republic and Italy and extends into Siberia and north Africa. It is absent from the UK.

Thanks, Pikebite

 

[British Red]

That looks right to me

 

[Mesquite]

Beautiful picture there, its profile just reminds me of a Vulcan bomber

 

[jipe]

Hehehe... I found him on the street. Fortunately nobody has crashed him !