Editing Small tortoiseshell (section)

==Life cycle==
As with several [[Nymphalidae|nymphalid]] butterflies, the [[caterpillar]]s feed on stinging nettles (''[[Urtica dioica]]'') and small nettle (''[[Urtica urens]]'').<ref name="Clarke-2022">{{cite journal |last1=Clarke |first1=Harry E. |title=A provisional checklist of European butterfly larval foodplants |journal=Nota Lepidopterologica |date=14 April 2022 |volume=45 |doi=10.3897/nl.45.72017 |url=https://nl.pensoft.net/article/72017/ |access-date=22 September 2022 |at=Supplementary material: spreadsheet|doi-access=free }}</ref> ''[[Humulus lupulus]]'' has also been recorded as larval food plant.<ref name="Clarke-2022"/> Adults feed on nectar. The species has one of the longest seasons of any Eurasian butterfly, extending from early spring to late autumn. Adults overwinter in [[hibernation]], emerging on the first warm sunny days of the year to mate and breed. In southern parts of the range there may be two broods each year, but northern insects are inhibited by long length of summer days from breeding a second time.<ref name=Pollard>E. Pollard and T. J. Yates (1993) Monitoring butterflies for ecology and conservation. Chapman & Hall. {{ISBN|0 412 63460 0}}</ref>

===Hatching===
Tortoiseshell butterflies usually begin to emerge from their pupa from mid-June into August. They begin hibernation sometime in October and immediately show territorial behaviour after hibernation.<ref name=":0">R. R. Baker "Territorial behaviour of the Nymphalid butterflies, ''Aglais urticae'' (L.) and ''Inachis io'' (L.)" ''Journal of Animal Ecology'', '''41''' (2) 1972, pp. 453–469</ref> The tortoiseshell butterflies that are found in the north usually have one brood a season, whereas further south these butterflies can have two broods. The ability to go through three generations of butterflies in a year is due to the tortoiseshell butterflies' decreased thermal requirement. The larvae of this butterfly are social.<ref>Bryant, S., Thomas, C. and Bale, J. (1997), "Nettle-feeding nymphalid butterflies: temperature, development and distribution." ''Ecological Entomology'', '''22''': 390–398. {{doi|10.1046/j.1365-2311}} Pollard, E., Greatorex-Davies, J.N. Thomas.1997.00082.x</ref> These larvae can be found on ''Urtica dioica'', which have a high nitrogen content and much water in the leaves.<ref>Pollard, E., Greatorex-Davies, J.N. and Thomas, J.A. (1997), Drought reduces breeding success of the butterfly ''Aglais urticae''. ''Ecological Entomology'', '''22''': 315–318.</ref>

===Hibernation===
The small tortoiseshell butterfly tends to enter hibernation by mid to late September.<ref name=":0"/> Typically this butterfly will try to hibernate in dark sheltered locations. Because of this hibernation, they need to accumulate a lot of fat to survive the winter. The tortoiseshell needs at least 20% of its body weight in lipids in order to survive, making them much slower.<ref>Almbro M, Kullberg C. (2008). Impaired escape flight ability in butterflies due to low flight muscle ratio prior to hibernation. ''Journal of Experimental Biology'' '''211''': 24–48.</ref>  Towards the end of their foraging for hibernation, they are much more susceptible to attacks by birds because of their low muscle to body mass ratio. During the first few weeks of hibernation, tortoiseshell butterflies are very susceptible to predator attacks. Up to 50% of the population hibernating in any given area can be eaten. The butterflies that hibernate in areas containing more light, and that are accessible to rodents who can climb, are the most susceptible to this type of predation.<ref>Wiklund, Christer, et al. (2008) "Rodent predation on hibernating peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies." ''Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology'' '''62''' (3): 379–389</ref>  During hibernation tortoiseshell butterflies are able to supercool in order to keep from freezing. In sheltered areas, these butterflies can stand up to −21 degrees Celsius without freezing. However, they experience rapid weight loss during unusually mild winters.<ref>Pullin, A. S., and J. S. Bale. "Effects of low temperature on diapausing ''Aglais urticae'' and ''Inachis io'' (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Cold hardiness and overwintering survival." ''Journal of Insect Physiology'' '''35''' (4) (1989): 277–281</ref>