Big butterflies we found in our garden

[Francisca]

Does anyone know which butterflies these are? We found them in our garden. The bigger one was 10cm wide. We have never seen such big butterflies in Europe. Where do they come from and is it common to see them in the South West of France? They were still sitting on our wall and the next day they were gone. I can't imagine what it would be like to have your garden full of these like we have other more common ones... it would be a bit scary to have them flying all around us

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[atronox]

These are moths, Saturnia pyri (Saturniidae).
Courting??

[Francisca]

Thanks Aaron. As you have noticed I know nothing about butterflies. Why are they moths? And where do they usually live? We have never seen them anywhere in Europe where we have lived: Portugal, Britain, Switzerland or Holland, only once here in the South West of France. You are right, we also thought that they were maybe courting also because one is bigger than the other, maybe a male and a female? Now I know the species I can see what I can find about them!

Francisca