Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
This record describes Aglais urticae (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A familiar butterfly with orange-brown wings that are marked with blues and darker browns. The orange upper sides of the wings provide a contrast with the drab undersides. This butterfly can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountaintops. Tt has been one of our most successful butterflies but populations have fallen in recent years. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins. All year round, but mainly from April to September. This butterfly is often encountered while hibernating in an outbuilding, such as a garage, shed or barn. Other hibernation sites include hollow trees and woodpiles. Adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically two broods each year, except in the north where there is usually only a single brood. The butterfly is a familiar sight in late summer as it takes nectar to build up essential fats in preparation for hibernation. It breeds on Nettles. This is one of our most widespread butterflies, occurring throughout the British Isles, including The Orkneys and Shetlands. Unfortunately this butterfly has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years.
Wikipedia reference for Aglais urticae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglais urticae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Nymphalini
- Genus
- Aglais (Tortoiseshells)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This butterfly can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountaintops. Tt has been one of our most successful butterflies but populations have fallen in recent years. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins.
Seasonal Activity
All year round, but mainly from April to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This butterfly is often encountered while hibernating in an outbuilding, such as a garage, shed or barn. Other hibernation sites include hollow trees and woodpiles. Adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically two broods each year, except in the north where there is usually only a single brood. The butterfly is a familiar sight in late summer as it takes nectar to build up essential fats in preparation for hibernation. It breeds on Nettles.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is one of our most widespread butterflies, occurring throughout the British Isles, including The Orkneys and Shetlands. Unfortunately this butterfly has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aglais urticae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Small Tortoiseshell (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Tortoiseshell
What is Small Tortoiseshell?
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Tortoiseshell found?
Habitat: This butterfly can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountaintops. Tt has been one of our most successful butterflies but populations have fallen in recent years. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins.
When is Small Tortoiseshell active?
Small Tortoiseshell: seasonal activity - All year round, but mainly from April to September..
What is the life cycle of a Small Tortoiseshell?
This butterfly is often encountered while hibernating in an outbuilding, such as a garage, shed or barn. Other hibernation sites include hollow trees and woodpiles. Adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically two broods each year, except in the north where there is usually only a single brood. The butterfly is a familiar sight in late summer as it takes nectar to build up essential fats in preparation for hibernation. It breeds on Nettles.