Sent when ready in April or May and again in July and August. The small tortoiseshell is an easy species to rear that is ideal for schools and novices alike. Breed them for release in June and July, or maybe even try your hand at a second brood. Whilst still a very widespread species, the small tortoiseshell, sadly, does not occur in the same numbers as in previous decades.
Larvae are best reared on growing, potted nettle, that is either covered in a netting sleeve, or placed inside a suitable net, popup cage. If stocks of living nettle are depleted, mature larvae can be fed on stems of daily cut nettle stood in (milk) bottles of water. Please ensure that you have plugged the neck of the bottle with cotton wool to prevent drowning.
When fully grown, larvae will pupate on the stems of the foodplant, or by hanging from the top of the cage. Newly formed pupae are very soft and must not be disturbed for several days, or they will be damaged, leading to malformation. Freshly emerged butterflies can be fed on cut flowers, or on cotton pads soaked in dilute honey solution (one teaspoon to a mug of water) prior to their release.
Larval foodplants: nettle (urticae).
Rearing: flowerpot cages, ventilated cages.
Photographs: egg batch x 200 magnification; immature larvae group; larvae on nettle root; pupae; adult nectaring.
