Scarce Tortoiseshell Butterfly Nymphalis xanthomelas

The Scarce Tortoiseshell Butterfly, also called the Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, is similar to the Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), but with yellow rather than dark brown legs. It is found from Eastern Europe through Central Asia to China. -- Stop Press: turning up on east coast of UK July 2014.

The Scarce Tortoiseshell, like the Large Tortoiseshell, is superficially similar to the Small Tortoiseshell but far less bright on the topside with less contrasting light and dark bars on the leading edge of the forewing, less of a brown area around the body and larger. The underside is also similar but the dark area on the hind wing has a straighter border.