Small tortoiseshell: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the small tortoiseshell lives – recorded in 24 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Aglais urticae
Group	Butterflies & moths
Found in	24 countries
Continents	Europe
Class	Insect
Order	Lepidoptera
Family	Nymphalidae

Where does the small tortoiseshell live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the small tortoiseshell in 24 countries and territories across Europe.

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

What kind of animal is the small tortoiseshell?

The small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is an insect in the order Lepidoptera and the family Nymphalidae, genus Aglais. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the small tortoiseshell

The small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a colourful Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Adults feed on nectar and may hibernate over winter; in warmer climates they may have two broods in a season. While the dorsal surface of the wings is vividly marked, the ventral surface is drab, providing camouflage. Eggs are laid on the common nettle, on which the larvae feed.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Small tortoiseshell (revision 1345273738), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q157609 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).