Urticae used to be very common, but seems noticeably less so in the last decade or two. One of my most vivid childhood memories is of urticae covering pink ice plants in local gardens. I have encountered urticae at very high altitudes of 2000m plus and with temperatures as low as 12C, when it has been the only butterfly on the wing (perhaps not surprisingly). Interestingly, urticae has much the same blue marginal marks the Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa).

It occurs throughout France but is described by the Lafranchis France book as rare in the south-east and the Mediterranean region. I would concur with this, hence the lack of photographic opportunities.

In the UK, there has been a dramatic decline in the numbers and this has been the subject of considerable research in recent years to determine the cause. It is believed to be because of attacks by a tiny parasitic fly, Sturmia bella.

ref

sex

observations

alt. m

25524

1320

25634

1400