Friday, 3 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is one of our most common and easily recognised species. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats and regularly occurs in gardens. It is fast flying in bright sunshine but can be easily approached when feeding. The species 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. Recent years have seen a rapid decline in numbers of Small Tortoiseshell both in Warwickshire and across the whole of the UK. The primary reason for this decline is due to the expanding range of a tachinid parasitoid fly called Sturmia bella which was first recorded in Britain in 1999. The fly lays its eggs on the surface of Common Nettle leaves. These are ingested by the young caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell and other nettle feeding species of the Nymphalidae family (Peacock, Comma and Red Admiral) although these appear not to be effected. The Sturmia bella larvae develop within the caterpillar and emerge just after the caterpillar pupates, killing the pupae in the process. 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. Larval Food plants Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) Habitat Requirements Gardens, railways, rough ground, anywhere where the larval foodplant Common Nettle is present. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Small Tortoiseshell Rough Hill Wood (WWT Reserve) Other Species Please select an alternative species from the list below. Bath White Black Hairstreak Black-veined White Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chalkhill Blue Chequered Skipper Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dappled White Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Geranium Bronze Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Large Skipper Large Tortoiseshell Large White Long-tailed Blue Map Marbled White Marsh Fritillary Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Pale Clouded Yellow Peacock Pearl-bordered Fritillary Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-studded Blue Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Swallowtail Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak Wood White © Steven Cheshire First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Small Tortoiseshell submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. 01/03/2010 - Draycote Reservoir 17/02/2009 - Browning Road, Hillmorton, Rugby 10/02/2008 - Judkins Quarry, Nuneaton 21/01/2007 - Alvecote Pools © Steven Falk - Adult Sturmia bella   © Debbie Hibbitt Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Small Tortoiseshell in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull Distribution of the Small Tortoiseshell during the indicated period. Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings 12-910+       2007 Distribution Data (1yr)   2008 available soon   2009 Distribution Data (1yr)   2000-09 Distribution Data (10yr) © Butterfly Conservation WarwickshirePrivacy and Copyright Statement Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)   Web site designed and maintained by Steven Cheshire