Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: Dec. 1, 2023, 7 p.m.
A not common species throughout Belgium. It used to be more widespread and the species shows great fluctuations from year to year.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Nymphalidae > Subfamily: Nymphalinae > Tribus: Nymphalini > Genus: Aglais > Species: Aglais urticae
- Vernacular names
- Kleine vos (NL), Small Tortoiseshell (EN), Petite Tortue (FR), Kleiner Fuchs (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1837. Catalogue des Lépidoptères ou Papillons de la Belgique, précédé du tableau des Libellulines de ce pays. — — : 1–29. On page 18 (as Vanessa Urticae). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
The upper side of the forewings is orange-red. Black spots alternate with yellow spots on the leading edge of the forewings. A small white spot is located near the tip of the forewings. A fairly large black spot covers part of the hindwings. A thin black band with bluish spots surrounds the 4 wings. The underside of the wings is a mixture of very dark spots and ocher spots.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Cocoon/pupa
Bionomics
The species hibernates in the adult stage.
Flight periods
The adults fly in two generations a year, of which the second is partial: from the end of June till the beginning of August, and from late July till the end of May of the next year.
Observed on
- Host plant (genera):
- Urtica
The larva lives on Urtica, at first gregariously, later on individually.
