Small Tortoiseshell Nymphalis urticae Wingspan 42mm. A colourful butterfly associated with waste and wayside areas where larval foodplant flourishes.

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Small Tortoiseshell Nymphalis urticae Wingspan 42mm. A colourful butterfly associated with waste and wayside areas where larval foodplant flourishes. Fond of basking in the sun, usually on bare ground. Adult has marbled orange, yellow and black upperwings; underwings are grey-brown. Double- or triple-brooded: flies March–October. Also hibernates. Larva is yellow and black and spiny; typically they are gregarious and feed on Common Nettle. Fairly common and widespread but much reduced in numbers in recent years.

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Size: 3504px × 2336px
Photo credit: © PAUL R. STERRY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: april, august, autumn, british, butterflies, butterfly, colorful, colourful, common, garden, gardens, horizontal, insect, insects, july, june, landscape, march, october, september, spring, summer, upper, upper-wing, upper-wings, upperwing, upperwings, wing, wings