Small fox magnet – Backyard Heroes

Discover the small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), one of Europe's most recognizable and beloved butterflies. With its striking orange and black wings, edged with a border of blue spots, the small tortoiseshell is the fiery jewel of the European garden — visible from early spring until deep into autumn. As one of the few butterflies that overwinter as adults, the small tortoiseshell is one of the first butterflies you can spot in the new year — a living sign of the approaching spring.

This premium magnet features stunning wildlife photography that captures the characteristic fiery orange wings and vibrant colors of this beloved garden butterfly.

Conservation status: Least Concern

• Population: Widespread in Europe (locally declining due to loss of nettles and wildflower meadows)
• Habitat: Gardens, parks, wildflower meadows and forest edges throughout Europe
• Major threats: Pesticide use, loss of nettles as host plants, climate change
• Ecological role: Indispensable pollinator of wildflowers and garden plants
• Special feature: Overwinters as an adult butterfly in sheds, cellars and hollow trees

Fascinating facts:

• The small tortoiseshell is one of the few European butterflies that overwinters as an adult — not as an egg, caterpillar, or pupa
• Caterpillars feed exclusively on nettles — a good reason to leave a patch of nettles in your garden
• The small tortoiseshell can produce up to 3 generations per year in warm summers
• They can live up to 9 months — exceptionally long for a butterfly
• The blue marginal spots on their wings are unique to each individual — like a fingerprint
• They are one of the first butterflies to appear in spring, sometimes as early as February in mild weather

How to attract small tortoiseshells to your garden?

• Plant nectar-rich flowers such as butterfly bush, lavender, sedum, and asters
• Leave a patch of nettles as a host plant for the caterpillars
• Provide sunny, sheltered spots for warming up
• Avoid pesticides — butterflies are extremely sensitive to chemicals
• Create overwintering sites — log piles, sheds, or butterfly houses

Read our complete rewilding guide for your garden →

We partner with organizations that make a real, measurable contribution to wildlife protection. Together, we are building a community of wildlife ambassadors — one magnet at a time.

With the purchase of this magnet, we donate €2.00 to wildlife conservation – directly contributing to the preservation of the small tortoiseshell and its habitat.

Part of our Backyard Heroes collection — turn your fridge into a tribute to the fiery jewel of the European garden.