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Photo: G. Bradley |
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UK
Safari Tip:
Need help identifying butterflies? Checkout the beautifully illustrated
fold-out chart in the Nature Shop called "Butterflies of
Britain" - click here
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Latin name: Aglais urticae
Size: Has a wingspan approximately 50mms.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: March to late October.
Habitat: Meadows, gardens, and waste ground with wild flowers.
Food: Nectar. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles.
Special features: This is one of the prettiest, and fortunately one of our commonest butterflies. They are resident in Britain all year, and can be found almost anywhere.
 They start laying eggs in spring, on the caterpillars food plant, stinging nettles.
The first brood of new butterflies appear in July. These can go on to produce another generation which appear as late as October. These late arrivals will hibernate through the winter in garden sheds and buildings, ready to re-emerge the following spring.
 This is an 'aberrant' form of the butterfly. The wing tips and wing edges are cream
coloured. Some of the black patches and blue spots which are normally on the wings are missing.
It's thought this is caused by high temperatures in the chrysalis stage.
Did You Know?
In Scotland the small tortoiseshell was formerly known as 'The Devils Butterfly'.
UK Safari Butterfly Section
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