Small Tortoiseshell
Image: Rachel Ruysch (Public domain)
Common NameSmall Tortoiseshell
Scientific NameAglais urticae
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black, yellow, white, blue
HabitatGardens, parks, meadows, woodlands, hedgerows, open country
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia, North Africa (Palearctic region)
Host PlantsUrtica dioica, Urtica urens, Humulus lupulus
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 in silken webs. Pupae are typically green or brown and camouflaged.
Identification TipsLook for the bright orange-red upperwings with three large black spots on the forewing, a black and yellow/white patch at the forewing apex, and a row of small blue spots along the wing margins. The underside is dark and cryptic.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with vibrant orange-red upperwings, marked with black spots and a distinctive black and yellow/white band at the forewing tips. The hindwings are mostly dark with an orange margin.
