Tortoiseshell Butterfly

The Tortiseshell Butterfly is a small, fast flying and very colorful butterfly. It has been appearing in lower numbers in Europe, but is not yet considered endangered.

Physical Characteristics

The Toritiseshell has a dark body and red and yellow wings, with a row of blue dots around the rear edge. The underwings are dull in color in order to help it hide when hibernating. Both sexes are the same color.

Habitat and Location

This butterfly lives in Europe, Asia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. Some have seen it in New York, but that is thought to be due to man’s help. It lives mostly in gardens or woodland areas.

Diet

The caterpillars of the Tortiseshell Butterfly eat stinging nettles leaves, while the adults eat nectar from nettles, betony, brambles, thistle, dandelions, hawkweeds, hemp, knapweeds, ivy, field sabious, primrose, thyme, and mint.

Breeding Facts

They are known for two broods a year. The males rest close to a nettle patch with their wings open waiting for females. When one comes by, they approach her and drum their antennae on the female’s back wings that is actually loud enough for people to hear. The female flies off and the male follows her. After a few hours, the two will rest together and mate. They remain together all night, and then the female lays her eggs.

Tortoiseshell Butterfly – Colorful Butterfly of Europe and Asia