“Aglais urticae” hibernate over-winter in many types of man-made structures: Including garages, out-buildings, sheds, lofts and even churches.
In early spring the adults emerge from hibernation, the males often feed and bask in the morning sun. Early in the afternoon, they start to claim territories near beds of stinging nettles; waiting for the visiting females. Mating of this species usually occurs among stinging nettles, so they are very seldom seen.
The female lays the eggs in large clusters from 60 up to 200 eggs, the caterpillars hatch in around 10 days’ time and spin a dense web over the plant’s growing tip. They then feed and reside on underside of the young stinging nettles leaves.
