This is one of the UK’s most striking butterflies, with bright orange and black spotted upper wings making it easily identifiable. The undersides of its wings are rather dull in comparison, allowing it to stay hidden through its winter sleep.
Larvae: Very similar to that of the Peacock, they take on more of a dark green tint as they mature, eventually developing two yellow stripes down their backs to tell us which species they are.
Latin name: Aglais urticae
Size: 45-62mm
Overview
The Small Tortoiseshell is another common British species which can be seen all over the country. It is a very strong flyer who loves sunshine and can be seen flitting around our gardens like an excited child, or sunbathing like a lazy holidaymaker on warm days throughout the year. Like the Peacock butterfly, its larvae huddle together in silken webs on common nettle plants which they devour until they pupate and become adults. Adults are most often found with their long proboscises tucking into the sweet nectar of Buddleia flowers. On hot and sticky summer afternoons, they pair up and mate but not before a bizarre courtship ritual takes place. Once a female enters a male’s territory, he will approach her and begin to tap his antennae on her back like a drum. They will bask together in the sun’s heat for hours, repeating the unusual drumming process as they go, until the early evening when they will retreat to the safety of some nearby foliage and finally mate.
In the garden
Unfortunately, this species has been struggling recently, possibly due to a parasitic fly, Sturmia bella which grows in the larvae and emerges from it or its pupa, killing it in the process. Common wasps also feed on the pupae of the Small Tortoiseshell and numbers are often down when the common wasp is thriving. Nevertheless, a good splash of colourful, nectar rich flowers will draw the butterfly in. They will keep feeding late into summer to make sure that they are nice and plump for their winter hibernation. Sheds are a favourite hibernation spot so be sure to leave your shed doors ajar for them. If you don’t have a shed, the shelter of a log pile will do the trick.