Small Tortoiseshell

Beautiful butterfly and the flower's not too shabby either.

Pretty sure its a Painted Lady.

Stera. you're right the black and white markings aren't right for a tortoiseshell

Yes it is a painted lady scientific name is Vanessa cardui.

we get them here too.

Thanks everybody. The flower is zinnia - a magnet for butterflies.

One summer a few years ago I counted 18 on my sweet rocket plants but although I continue to grow sweet rocket, I've seen no painted ladies since. I think it must have been a particularly good year for them. Am I right in thinking they are visitors from Spain?

Here in the US, they migrate up from Mexico. In your case it may be Spain.

North Africa in our case...

Penny I remember that year - we had crowds of them passing the side of our garden on their way to somewhere and quite a few stopped off to enjoy our Nepeta. Like you we haven't seen one since.

I only started seeing this one last year. Before that I haven't heard of "Painted Lady." Thanks for the info and interesting comments.