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Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

Description:

The Small Tortoiseshell is one of the most common and widespread butterflies of Europe. One of the first butterflies out of hibernation in spring, this strong flyer is seen well into the autumn. The adult is striking with orange wings with black, white and yellow patterns, and with a row of blue triangles around the rear edge. The underwings are dull and help to camouflage stationary or individuals.

Habitat:

Spotted in a prealpine meadow, alt. 1400 m ASL. Distribution: throughout temperate Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan.

Notes:

The common wasp feeds on the Tortoiseshell's pupae.

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4 Comments

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 11 years ago

Thanks Satyen!

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Fabulous spotting!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 11 years ago

Thank you Atul! These guys are everywhere now. I spotted the first ones back in March though, just coming out of hibernation. There was still snow around at the time.

Atul
Atul 11 years ago

Beautiful !
the butterfly season has begun here too!hope to spot some good ones soon :-)

DanielePralong
Spotted by
DanielePralong

Châtel-Saint-Denis, Fribourg - Freiburg, Switzerland

Spotted on Jun 14, 2012
Submitted on Jun 20, 2012

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