Aglais urticae urticae

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Small tortoiseshell
French : Vanesse de l’ortie, Petite tortue

Classification
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Notes : 9 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach 5.5 cm in wingspan. Underside is dark grey-brown with broad brown band on hindwing and clear spot on forewing. Upperside is bright orange with white-blue spotted black edge and row of three black spots on hindwing.

Range and habitat
The species is found in all Europe and eastwards to central and eastern Asia to Japan. Subspecies occurs from most of Europe to west Siberia and Altai region. Lives in open grasslands, gardens, including suburban gardens.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed. It has a huge range but has been declining alarmingly in Europe, possibly because of climate change effects.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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