Small Tortoiseshell
Image: Hieronymus Bosch (Public domain)
Common NameSmall Tortoiseshell
Scientific NameAglais urticae
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Primary Colorsorange, black, yellow, blue
HabitatGardens, meadows, woodlands, parks, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia, North Africa
Host Plantsstinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in batches on nettle leaves. Larvae are spiny, black with yellow stripes, and feed communally. Pupae are typically green or brown and hang upside down.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of orange-brown wings with black and yellow markings on the forewings, and a submarginal row of blue spots. The wing edges are slightly scalloped.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with vibrant orange-brown wings, featuring prominent black and yellow patches on the forewing leading edge, and a distinctive row of blue spots along the wing margins.
