small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) Description
English: Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Lichtenwalde, Germany
Deutsch: Kleiner Fuchs (Aglais urticae), Lichtenwalde, Germany
Date 17 August 2013
Source Own work
Author Jörg Hempel https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:LC-de
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aglais_urticae_LC0310.jpg
The small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae L.) is a colourful Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found throughout temperate Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan, wherever Common Nettle which their larvae feed on is found. There are a few records from New York City which, however, are believed to be of introduced insects. The small tortoiseshell is the national butterfly of Denmark. Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Nymphalidae, Binomial name: Aglais urticae.