The Small Tortoiseshell is a medium-sized, pretty butterfly common in gardens where it feeds on Buddleia and other flowers. It is on the wing throughout the year, having several broods, and overwinters as an adult. Normally a very common butterfly, the Small Tortoiseshell has declined by 80% since 1990 in south-east England. Their decline has been blamed on wet summers bought about by climate change and the arrival of a tiny parasitic fly, Sturmia bella (first noted in Britain in 1999), which kills tortoiseshell caterpillars after they inadvertently eat its eggs. The caterpillars feed on Common Nettle.
Wonderful capture and thanks for the info on that parasite!
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Interesting. I am currently trying to cultivate a nettle patch without Granny Ratz noticing. They are a des-res for lots of wonderful insects. Not much we can do about the parasite though, I suppose.
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That will be low impact cultivation then!
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Oh yes! 😉
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They’re beautiful. What a shame such pretties are on the decline.
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I agree! It is such a shame.
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Beautiful. So sad that imports are killing all the native butterflies
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