Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillar
Scientific Name: Aglais urticae
Order & Family: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae
Size: Up to 22 mm as a caterpillar; 45–62 mm wingspan as an adult.
Natural Habitat
Meadows, gardens, and waste ground where stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) grow.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed almost exclusively on stinging nettles (Urtica dioica). Adults feed on nectar from flowers like thistles and buddleia.
Behavior Patterns
Young caterpillars live communally in silk nests for protection; older larvae become solitary. They go through five larval stages before pupating.
Risks & Benefits
Non-toxic and harmless to humans. They are beneficial pollinators as adults and serve as an important food source for birds and parasitic wasps.
Identified on: 5/23/2026