Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Norway
Brush-footed butterflies · Norway

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

Small Tortoiseshell is one of Norway’s most common butterflies, with a warm orange upper side, a black band with blue spots along the edge, and black and yellow spots on the forewings. It overwinters as an adult and can be found throughout the country, including in the mountains.

Status in this countryCommon in NorwayLC (Least concern)
Small Tortoiseshell

Flight period

July–September and April–May. Overwinters as an imago.

Habitat

In sheltered, flower-rich places near nettles (Urtica). Also in the mountains.

Identifying features

Wingspan 40–52 mm. The upper side of the wing is warm orange with a brown outer edge. Within the outer edge is a black band with blue spots. Along the leading edge of the forewing, there are alternating black and yellow spots with a white spot furthest against the edge band. In the middle of the forewing, there are two round black spots, and near the trailing edge, one large black spot with a yellow spot outside. The hindwing’s base is dark brown with golden hairs and dusting, and is clearly defined from the orange outer band. The wings’ yellow markings fade to almost white after overwintering.

Similar species

The wing patterns resemble large tortoiseshell and Yellow-legged tortoiseshell, but these are larger and less contrasting, and have two black spots along the hind edge of the forewing.

Distribution

Europe, Turkey, Central Asia, and as far as east to Japan. Common throughout the country, also in the mountains.

Biology

The larvae live in groups on nettles (Urtica). The larva is black with a dotted double yellow line along its back and yellow lines along its sides. Its spiracles are black with whitish rings. It has green legs and black spines on its back and sides and reaches a length of 35–40 mm. It pupates while hanging from the host plant or another nearby vertical surface.