The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Nymphalis Polychloros

a tortoiseshell butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The wingspread is up to 6 cm. The reddish brown wings are scalloped and have a brownish black design; along the dark border is a row of light blue crescent-shaped spots. N. polychloros is distributed in Europe and Western Siberia. The butterflies hatch after midsummer, and the fertilized females live through the winter. The caterpillars are black with longitudinal yellow stripes. They develop on certain hardwood trees, including fruit trees, and live in broods among loosely woven leaves. N. polychloros is a minor pest of fruit trees.

References in periodicals archive

Large Tortoiseshell butterfly and Yellowspotted Emerald dragonfly have been spotted in the UK in recent weeks, while Lesser Emperor dragonfly has been seen as far north as Yorkshire.

BIRD NOTES

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The large tortoiseshell, meanwhile, was lost as a breeding species in the UK more than 40 years ag o, but this year was regularly seen in southern England during the summer.

Getting butterflies over arrival of exotic species

The large tortoiseshell, meanwhile, was lost as a breeding species in the UK more than 40 years ago, but this year was regularly seen in southern England during the summer.

Exotic butterflies could colonise the North East - if they manage to last the winter; Scarce tortiseshell butterfly was spotted on Tyneside this year, and could survive into next year, experts say

Arrivals could include the Swallowtail, three of which have been spotted in southern England this year, and the Large Tortoiseshell which has been extinct for many years but which could recolonise and has been spotted on the Isle of Wight this year.

Expert records ups and downs of butterflies

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They include two species that became extinct in the past 20 years, the Large Blue and Large Tortoiseshell.

Disaster fear over decline of wildlife

TRANSFORMATION: Pupils from St Marie's Junior School hope to attract butterflies, like this large tortoiseshell (left) to their garden.

Creating a haven for butterflies

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The large tortoiseshell was last recorded in this country in the late 1940s, probably in Suffolk.

LETTERS: your views

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The population of large tortoiseshell butterflies dwindled during the early 20th century, with no wild examples seen since 1945.

Butterfly in 60yr return; WILDLIFE