Editing Small tortoiseshell (section)

==Feeding==
For most adult butterflies, including the small tortoiseshell butterfly, nectar is one of the main sources of nutrients. In order to obtain the nectar, the butterfly must be able to recognize distinct floral aromas and colours. The small tortoiseshell butterfly is able to differentiate between various flowers through visual signals.<ref name="Andersson, Susanna 2003">Andersson, Susanna. (2003) "Foraging responses in the butterflies ''Inachis io'', ''Aglais urticae'' (Nymphalidae), and ''Gonepteryx rhamni'' (Pieridae) to floral scents." ''Chemoecology'' '''13''' (1): 1–11</ref> Tortoiseshell butterflies in particular tend to prefer colours at both ends of the visible light spectrum for humans, 400&nbsp;nm and 600&nbsp;nm.<ref>Scherer, Christian, and Gertrud Kolb. (1987) "The influence of color stimuli on visually controlled behavior in ''Aglais urticae'' L. and ''Pararge aegeria'' L. (Lepidoptera)." ''Journal of Comparative Physiology A'' '''161''' (6): 891–98</ref> These correspond to the colours violet and red respectively. This ability comes from their compound eye. The flowers depend on the butterflies for pollination, so it is a mutually beneficial relationship.<ref name="Andersson, Susanna 2003"/>