Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

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Here’s a detailed overview of the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) — one of Europe’s most familiar and beloved butterflies:

🦋 Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

🔹 Taxonomy

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Genus: Aglais
Species: Aglais urticae
Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

🔹 Identification

Wingspan: 45–62 mm
Upper side:
- Bright orange forewings with black and yellow patches
- Three black spots and a bold black margin
- Blue crescent-shaped markings along wing edges
Hindwings: More uniform orange with black and blue border
Underside: Cryptic mottled brown and grey—provides camouflage when resting

🔹 Distribution

Range: Widespread across Europe, temperate Asia, and parts of China and Japan
Present from the British Isles and Scandinavia down to Turkey and as far east as Mongolia

🔹 Habitat

Versatile and adaptive:
- Meadows, gardens, hedgerows, open woodland, parks, roadsides
- Found from sea level to alpine zones

🔹 Life Cycle

Broods: Typically 2–3 generations per year (especially in southern Europe)
Flight period: March to October (overwinters as adults)

🐛 Eggs

Laid in clusters on the underside of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves

🐛 Larva (Caterpillar)

Black with yellow stripes and spines
Gregarious in early instars
Feed exclusively on nettle

🐛 Pupa (Chrysalis)

Mottled brown/gold
Usually attached to nearby vegetation

🦋 Adult

Feeds on nectar-rich flowers like buddleia, thistles, clover, dandelion
Will enter hibernation in sheds, wood piles, tree hollows, or attics

🔹 Behavior

Territorial: Males guard sunlit patches
Basking: Often seen sunbathing to warm up
Migratory/local dispersal: In early spring, adults emerge from hibernation and disperse to lay eggs

🔹 Conservation Status

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Declines noted in some regions (especially UK) due to:
- Habitat loss
- Pesticide use
- Climate change
- Parasites like tachinid flies

🔹 Similar Species

Peacock (Aglais io) – larger, with striking eyespots
Comma (Polygonia c-album) – more ragged wings, paler orange
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) – lacks blue border and has pinkish tones

🔹 Cultural Significance

Seen as a symbol of summer and rural beauty
Popular subject in art, photography, and butterfly conservation education
Its early emergence makes it a sign of spring in Northern Europe

📸 Fun Fact

In sunny weather, Small Tortoiseshells can be seen engaging in aerial dogfights, spiraling rapidly upwards in what appears to be courtship or territorial defense.