Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
National Status
Widespread over most of the UK, range stable. Population trend 10 years to 2016 +146%; since 1976 -73%.
West Midlands Status
Found almost everywhere, range stable. Population trend 10 years to 2016 – increasing despite large decline in cold summer of 2012.
Small Tortoiseshell was recorded in 678 squares in 2026
10 Year Trend Analysis
Habitat
Found in many habitats including gardens, farmland and other more open areas.
Caterpillar Food Plant
The main foodplants are Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Small Nettle (Urtica urens).
Refer to the Gardening for butterflies website by Joseph Shaffery for more details about caterpillar food plants and nectar sources.
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flight Period
Usually two broods with peak numbers in mid-April, the beginning of July and the end of August.
First/Last Sightings 2026
| First Sighting | Recorded by | Last Sighting | Recorded by |
| 17 January | Ruth Newby | 16 October | Leach, Miles |
Distribution Map
Key
Total number of sightings per tetrad
Hotspots
Nectaring in gardens in late autumn.