Small tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
Butterfly
The small tortoiseshell is one of the most familiar garden butterflies of Britain and northern Europe, its reddish-orange forewings marked with black and yellow and edged by a border of blue spots. Adults are generalist nectar foragers, visiting Sedum, Verbena bonariensis, buddleia, thistles, and marjoram among many other flowers, while larvae feed primarily on stinging nettle (Urtica), with hops occasionally recorded as a minor host. The species overwinters as an adult in sheltered sites and is among the first butterflies to appear in spring.
Conservation
Assessed Near Threatened on the European Red List of Butterflies (2025) after a very rapid decline in parts of western Europe linked to drought, intensified land use, and reduced nettle availability; it remains locally common but is no longer widespread in some former strongholds.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
0 essential relationships / 3 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 0
Forage/pollination links: 3
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Autumn-joy stonecrop
Supporting / Nectar plants
Autumn-flowering stonecrops (Hylotelephium/Sedum) are a documented key late-season nectar source as adults build reserves before hibernation.
Oregano
Supporting / Nectar plants
Oregano/marjoram (Origanum) is a documented late-summer nectar source for the species.
Orpine
Supporting / Nectar plants
Plants in the catalog
Nectar plants · 4
Autumn-flowering stonecrops (Hylotelephium/Sedum) are a documented key late-season nectar source as adults build reserves before hibernation.
Oregano/marjoram (Origanum) is a documented late-summer nectar source for the species.
Verbena bonariensis is repeatedly named and photographed as a nectar plant for the small tortoiseshell in UK butterfly gardens.
Range
Temperate Europe and Asia from Ireland and Iberia east through Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan; common across Britain and Ireland. Populations in parts of western Europe have declined markedly in recent decades.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/small-tortoiseshell
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
Small tortoiseshell - Wikipedia
Taxonomy, Eurasian range, the 2025 European Red List Near Threatened status, adult overwintering, nettle larval hosts, and generalist nectar foraging.
Small tortoiseshell - UK Butterflies
UK Butterflies species account for the small tortoiseshell, covering British distribution, the two-brood adult flight with winter hibernation, common and small nettle larval foodplants, and adult nectar sources.
Aglais urticae - GBIF
GBIF backbone taxonomy record for Aglais urticae, confirming the accepted species name and its Eurasian occurrence range.
Aglais urticae - iNaturalist
iNaturalist taxon page for Aglais urticae, corroborating the accepted name and mapping verifiable observations across its range.