Wild Wednesday - Tortoiseshell butterfly
This week's we celebrate one of the most eye‑catching and historically important butterflies in Britain - the tortoiseshell butterfly. Both the familiar small tortoiseshell and the newly returned large tortoiseshell have strong links to West Sussex, making them perfect stars for this week's feature.
Once long considered extinct in Britain, the large tortoiseshell, scientific name, Nymphalis polychloros, has made a dramatic and heart‑warming return. This month, conservationists confirmed that the species is now officially a resident in the UK again, thanks to a wave of early spring sightings across the south, including Sussex.
Further studies noted steady colonisation across Sussex, with confirmed breeding at multiple sites. In 2023 alone, there were around twenty Sussex records in at least ten localities, showing that the butterfly is quietly establishing itself in the landscape. The best time to spot overwintering individuals is mid‑March to early April, especially in woodland areas.
How to recognise it
- warm tawny‑yellow tones
- a distinctive long hindwing shape
- four evenly sized black spots on the forewings
- blue edging only on the hindwings
Where to see it
It loves woodland habitats, especially those containing elm, willow, aspen and poplar trees, which serve as food plants for caterpillars.
West Sussex's mixture of ancient woodland, river valleys, and elm pockets, make it an ideal place for this species to re‑establish itself.
Read more here: Small Tortoiseshell | Butterfly Conservation