Small Tortoiseshell

Name: Small Tortoiseshell

Scientific name: Aglais urticae

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 20

What are nature stars?

About: A medium sized butterfly, mainly reddish-orange in colour with black and yellow markings and a ring of blue spots around the edge of the wings. Wingspan of about 5.5 cm. Adults fly throughout the year in several broods, overwintering as adults. A very common butterfly but apparently in decline perhaps as a result of several wet summers in a row. They are common in gardens where they feed on buddleia and other flowers. Caterpillars feed on Stinging Nettles.

How to identify: Unmistakeable.

Where: Found right across the country.

Natural Superpowers

  • Predator: 10
  • Agility: 70
  • Rarity: 20
  • Cute factor: 50
  • Traveller: 70

Fantastic fact: Males are very territorial, chasing each other, other butterflies and anything else dark that appears in their territory.

Photograph credit: Keith Warmington/www.warmies.co.uk

More in this category: Oil beetle » « Small Skipper

comments

  • Catalas
    • Date: 2011-07-20 17:15:38
    • Catalas
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    I love this butterfly it is amazing and hi again ladyeva he he

  • Catalas
    • Date: 2011-07-20 17:13:41
    • Catalas
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    these things are buteful he he sorry I can not spell the ur buterful

  • Ottero
    • Date: 2011-06-15 18:15:43
    • Ottero
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    Small Tortoiseshells are beautiful, I sometimes see them on some plants near where I live.

  • Ladyeva
    • Date: 2011-02-19 11:01:10
    • Ladyeva
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    The small tortois shell. I went butterfly catching and caught one then I let it go.

  • Greenilla
    • Date: 2010-04-20 18:31:58
    • Greenilla
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    I have seen lots of them in my garden.

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