A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly ~ Aglais urticae The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly is unlikely to be confused with any other in the British Isles. The similar Large Tortoiseshell is now extinct in the Uk, although occasional records do occur as a result of released captive breeding or immigrants from the continent
The Small Tortoiseshell has been recorded in every month of the year and hibernates as a butterfly.
The overwintering butterflies are one of the first butterflies to emerge from hibernation as early as February and March.
They are frequently found flapping at windows in buildings where the sun has prematurely raised the temperature.
In the south it has two generations and is most numerous in late summer and Autumn when second broods have emerged and migrant butterflies have arrived from continental Europe
I it found fluttering around my office yesterday eventually it landed on the Reader's Digest Book on wild flowers of Britain. It closed it's wings & I was then able to place it on a plain white envelope & take two more pictures while Jesse watched from the Futon see my other posting today.
Susan