Small tortoiseshell  (Aglais urticae)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This resident butterfly has a wide distribution, and is common throughout Britain. Elsewhere it is widespread in Europe, and reaches as far east as the Pacific coast of Asia (2).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

The caterpillars feed on common nettle (Urtica dioica) and small nettle (U. urens), which thrive in nutrient-enriched soils, and are therefore often associated with human activity. As a result, the small tortoiseshell inhabits a huge range of habitats, wherever the foodplants occur (2).

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