Head to head
Peacock Butterfly vs Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock Butterfly
VS Small Tortoiseshell
The peacock butterfly and small tortoiseshell are close relatives in the genus Aglais, both nettle-feeding garden butterflies that hibernate as adults, but they differ in wing pattern, defences, and recent fortunes.
| Peacock Butterfly | Small Tortoiseshell | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Aglais io | Aglais urticae |
| Relationship | A close relative of the small tortoiseshell, in the same genus | A close relative of the peacock butterfly, in the same genus |
| Wings | A large eyespot on each wing, with dark, bark-like undersides | Bright orange wings patterned with black and yellow, edged with a row of blue crescents |
| Defence | Flicks its wings open to flash its eyespots and hisses by rubbing parts of them together | Not specifically documented |
| Caterpillars | Black, spiky caterpillars that feed together in groups on stinging nettle | Caterpillars that feed together inside a silk web on stinging nettle |
| Winter | Hibernates as an adult in hollow trees, sheds, and woodpiles | Hibernates as an adult in sheds, outbuildings, and hollow trees |
| Range | Europe and temperate Asia as far as Japan | Europe and temperate Asia, from Britain to Japan |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population | Least Concern, though declining sharply in parts of Britain |
Peacock Butterfly vs Small Tortoiseshell: common questions
Which butterfly hisses?
The peacock butterfly, which flicks its wings open and rubs parts of them together to make a hissing sound.
Which one has declined in Britain?
The small tortoiseshell, which has fallen sharply in parts of Britain in recent decades.
What do their caterpillars eat?
Both feed together in groups on stinging nettle, the peacock's in the open and the small tortoiseshell's inside a silk web.