A small and attractive butterfly often seen in gardens, especially feeding on buddleia.

Subspecies
Wingspan: about 50mm.

Physical description
The wings are orange with a thin border of brown with small blue dots along the sides. At the front edge of the upper wings there is a pattern of black and yellow or orange marks. Small tortoiseshell caterpillars are yellow with dense black speckling and two yellow lines down their back and one along each side. They have black spines along their sides and back.

Distribution
They are widespread from Europe to Asia.

Diet
Caterpillars feed on nettles, spinning leaves together. Adults drink nectar from flowers such as thistles and buddleia.

Behaviour
This species will rest with its wings closed but will open and close them rapidly, flashing their bright colours to confuse and alarm predators.

Conservation status
Small tortoiseshells are not listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List 2000.