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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
Regarded as one of our most common butterflies the bright orange wings with black spots of the Small Tortoiseshell makes this one of our most easily recognised butterflies. It is fast flying in bright sunshine but can be easily approached when feeding.
The Small Tortoiseshell is a strong flyer and easily colonises suitable habitat. It also hibernates during the winter and is usually one of the first butterflies to be seen in the spring along with other regular hibernators, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma and Brimstone.
Its larvae feed on Common Stinging Nettle usually in large numbers with young larvae living close together sheltered within a protective silken web. As the larvae reach the final stages of development, they become more independent.
Recent years have seen a rapid decline in numbers of Small Tortoiseshell numbers across Britain. The primary reason for this decline is thought to be due to the expanding range of a tachinid parasitoid fly called Sturmia bella which was first recorded in Britain in 1999.
The adult fly (Sturmia bella) lays its eggs on the surface of Common Nettle leaves. These are ingested by the young caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell. The Sturmia bella larvae develop within the caterpillar and emerge just after the caterpillar pupates, killing the pupae in the process. The Sturmia bella larvae then pupate themselves. The pupae are brown, smooth with a shiny appearance.
Research is currently being conducted by Dr Owen Lewis at the Dept of Zoology University of Oxford in order to acertain if Sturmia bella is the cause of the reduced abundance of the Small Tortoiseshell in the UK. For more information about Sturmia bella, visit the Tachinid Recording Scheme web site.
It should be noted that there are several other species of parasitoid fly whose larvae feed on the caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell. These include the ichneumonid Phobocampe confusa whose pupa are slivey-grey and slightly hairy.
Habitat
The Small Tortoiseshell can be found in a wide variety of habitats and regularly occurs in gardens feeding on Buddleia. It can also be found on disused railways and railway embankments rough ground and anywhere where the larval foodplant Common Nettle is present.
Larval Food Plants
Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). |
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 18 photographs of the Small Tortoiseshell in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1758 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1397 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1396 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1294 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1293 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1166 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1165 - Small Tortoiseshell
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BB1164 - Small Tortoiseshell
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Small Tortoiseshell is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -34% |
(1976-2004) down by -15% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Small Tortoiseshell can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 23 named aberrant forms of the Small Tortoiseshell. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albapicata - Cabeau (1925) |
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| ab. angustibalteata - Raynor (1909) |
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| ab. brunneoviolacea - Raynor (1909) |
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| ab. caerulapicata - Raynor (1906) |
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| ab. conjuncta - Neuberg (1905) |
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| ab. cuneatiguttata - Raynor (1909) |
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| ab. dannenbergi - Neuberg (1905) |
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| ab. ichnusioides - de Selys (1837) |
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| ab. leodiensis - Cabeau (1927) |
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| ab. luteomarginata - Lambillion (1906) |
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| ab. nigra - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. nigrita - Fickert (1897) |
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| ab. osborni - Donckier (1881) |
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| ab. pallida - Mosley (1896) |
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| ab. pseudichnusa - Reuss (1939) |
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| ab. semialba - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. semiichnusoides - Pronin (1928) |
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| ab. seminigra - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. sordida - Fritsch (1913) |
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| ab. subtusbrunnescens - Groenendijk (1966) |
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| ab. subtus-ornata - Reuss (1910) |
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| ab. subtuspuncta - Reuss (1909) |
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| ab. urticoides - Fischer de Waldheim (1851) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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45-62mm
