Home PageButterflies and Moths Menu Small Tortoiseshells  

Latin name - Aglais urticae

Flight period - January to December

Wingspan 4.5 to 6.2 cm, 1.77 to 2.44 inch.

The Small Tortoiseshell is a medium-sized, pretty butterfly, can be found in a wide variety of habitats and common in gardens where it feeds on Buddleia and other flowers. It is mainly reddish-orange in colour, with black and yellow markings on the forewings and a ring of blue spots around the edge of the wings. It can be seen throughout the year, has several broods, and overwinters as an adult.

Small Tortoiseshell, Plymouth Hoe Small Tortoiseshell Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens
Small Tortoiseshell, Plymouth Hoe Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens Small Tortoiseshell, rame Head
Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens Small Tortoiseshell, Cotehele Gardens Small Tortoiseshell, Plymouth Hoe