- National Status: Range expanding nationally. Population trend 10 years -28%; since 1976 +150%.
- West Midlands Status: Widespread, found almost in all areas, range stable. Population trend 10 years – decreasing.
- Hotspots: The highest transect counts are at Grafton Wood and the Knapp and Papermill, Haugh Wood, Monkwood, Rea Valley.
- Habitat: Open woodland, woodland margins, hedgerows and gardens.
- Flight Period: hibernates through the winter and has two generations each year in late June/early July and late August/early September.
- Wingspan 50–64 mm with the female slightly larger than the male.
Life Cycle
Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Currants (various) (Ribes spp.), Elms (various) (Ulmus spp.), Hop (Humulus lupulus) and Willows (various) (Salix spp.) are also used.
| Trend Line for last 5 years using selected sites ——– Best sites for species over the last 5 years |
- The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years – 2020 to 2024
- The Population Trend from Transect Records from 2019 to 2024 considered STABLE Also shows the number of transect sites
- Phenology from All Records
West Midlands Butterflies Blog 