Small Tortoiseshell
Image: Augusto Giacometti (Public domain)
Common NameSmall Tortoiseshell
Scientific NameAglais urticae
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)57
Primary Colorsorange, red, black, white
HabitatGardens, parks, meadows, woodlands, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia, North Africa
Host Plantsstinging nettle
Flight PeriodMarch to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on stinging nettle; larvae are spiny, black with yellow stripes; pupates as an angular chrysalis. Adults overwinter.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive orange-red wings with three large black spots on the forewing, a black apex with white patches, and a row of blue spots along the wing margins. The jagged wing edges are also characteristic.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with vibrant orange-red wings marked with black and yellow patches, and a row of blue spots along the margin. The underside is dark and cryptic.
