A small tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae, flapping its wings on a sunlit rock in Siuntio, Finland. This beautiful Eurasian butterfly belongs to the family Nymphalidae. Select the image to play the video on YouTube.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly on a Rock | Aglais urticae Video
A small tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae, rests on a sunlit rock in Siuntio, Finland, gently flapping its wings. This short nature video captures a quiet close-up moment with one of Finland’s most recognizable butterflies.
The small tortoiseshell belongs to the family Nymphalidae, also known as brush-footed butterflies. NatureGate lists the species as Aglais urticae, and Butterfly Conservation describes it as a familiar orange, black, yellow, white, and blue butterfly with a wingspan of about 50–56 mm.
Distribution of the Small Tortoiseshell
The small tortoiseshell is a Eurasian butterfly with a wide distribution. It is found across temperate Europe and extends east through Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan, especially in areas where nettles grow, because nettles are essential food plants for the caterpillars.
A European butterfly distribution atlas describes Aglais urticae as a Euro-Siberian species found throughout Europe and eastward through Asia Minor, Central Asia, and Siberia toward the Far East.
The Yearly Cycle in Finland
In Finland, the small tortoiseshell is known as nokkosperhonen. It is an adult-overwintering butterfly, which means it survives the winter as a fully developed butterfly rather than as an egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis. This is why it is often among the first butterflies seen in spring.
After waking from hibernation, the adults fly in spring and lay eggs in clusters on the underside of nettle leaves. The caterpillars live together on nettles before pupating. In Finland, the new generation usually appears from July onward, and in exceptionally warm summers the species may produce a second generation.
As autumn approaches, adult butterflies search for sheltered places to spend the winter. They may overwinter in buildings, sheds, cellars, tree cavities, rock crevices, or other protected spaces. When warm spring sunlight returns, they become active again and the cycle begins once more.
Filming and Photographing Butterflies
Butterflies are rewarding subjects for nature photography, but they require patience. A rock, like the one in this video, can be a good place to observe them because sunlit stones hold warmth. Butterflies often open and move their wings while resting, warming themselves and preparing for flight.
For close-up butterfly photography, calm movement is essential. A slow approach, soft natural light, and a low camera angle usually work better than quick movements or harsh midday light. Early morning or slightly cooler weather can also make butterflies easier to photograph, because they are less active before fully warming up.
This video shows a simple but beautiful Finnish nature moment: a colorful small tortoiseshell butterfly, a warm rock, and the quiet rhythm of wings moving in the sunlight.
The small tortoiseshell belongs to the family Nymphalidae, also known as brush-footed butterflies. NatureGate lists the species as Aglais urticae, and Butterfly Conservation describes it as a familiar orange, black, yellow, white, and blue butterfly with a wingspan of about 50–56 mm.
Distribution of the Small Tortoiseshell
The small tortoiseshell is a Eurasian butterfly with a wide distribution. It is found across temperate Europe and extends east through Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan, especially in areas where nettles grow, because nettles are essential food plants for the caterpillars.A European butterfly distribution atlas describes Aglais urticae as a Euro-Siberian species found throughout Europe and eastward through Asia Minor, Central Asia, and Siberia toward the Far East.
The Yearly Cycle in Finland
In Finland, the small tortoiseshell is known as nokkosperhonen. It is an adult-overwintering butterfly, which means it survives the winter as a fully developed butterfly rather than as an egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis. This is why it is often among the first butterflies seen in spring.After waking from hibernation, the adults fly in spring and lay eggs in clusters on the underside of nettle leaves. The caterpillars live together on nettles before pupating. In Finland, the new generation usually appears from July onward, and in exceptionally warm summers the species may produce a second generation.
As autumn approaches, adult butterflies search for sheltered places to spend the winter. They may overwinter in buildings, sheds, cellars, tree cavities, rock crevices, or other protected spaces. When warm spring sunlight returns, they become active again and the cycle begins once more.
Filming and Photographing Butterflies
Butterflies are rewarding subjects for nature photography, but they require patience. A rock, like the one in this video, can be a good place to observe them because sunlit stones hold warmth. Butterflies often open and move their wings while resting, warming themselves and preparing for flight.For close-up butterfly photography, calm movement is essential. A slow approach, soft natural light, and a low camera angle usually work better than quick movements or harsh midday light. Early morning or slightly cooler weather can also make butterflies easier to photograph, because they are less active before fully warming up.
This video shows a simple but beautiful Finnish nature moment: a colorful small tortoiseshell butterfly, a warm rock, and the quiet rhythm of wings moving in the sunlight.