Great British Lepidoptera

Small Tortoiseshell

(Aglais Urticae)

Flocking around Buddleias and Ice Plants in gardens and on Thistles and Nettles in the countryside, Small Tortoiseshells have become some of the most familiar of British butterflies. They get their name from their brightly speckled wings which vary greatly in their black pattern from one to another.

Small Tortoiseshells live through the winter as butterflies, and hibernating may start as early as August. They often enter houses and rest in the corners of ceilings or under pelmets and curtains. They also hibernate in garages and garden sheds which are not too damp. They become active again in mid-march, and lay eggs in May. These lead to a generation of butterflies in June and July which lay eggs to produce butterflies that hatch in August/September and live through winter. Immigrants reinforce the British butterflies in July/August.

Male butterflies establish territories by driving off other butterflies from favourite patches in sunny situations, often next to a wall or hedge. Each day they set up a territory bout noon and during the afternoon each male will hold, on average, two areas, each for about 90 minutes. Mating takes place in the evening and they often roost for the night under Nettle leaves.