Small tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae turcica

The smaller of the tortoiseshells with a wingspan of 40-62 mm, closely resembles the large but the colour is more of a reddish-orange and there are larger areas of black on the hindwings. The small lives in a variety of habitats, such as gardens, wasteland, woodland, thickets, fields, meadows, grassland, and stony slopes. Host plants are members of the nettle family (Urticaceae), such as stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and small nettle (U. urens). This migratory butterfly flies March through October and travels far in search of its host plant.

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