Editing Small tortoiseshell (section)

===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>