| UK BAP status: | Not listed |
| Local status: | Primarily a migrant, arriving from North Africa, the Continent or even Scandanavia during spring and summer. Numbers vary each year.
It breeds here, but in the main does not over-winter here, though during mild winters some do survive through to the spring. |
| Size: | Large. |
| Larval foodplant: | Common Nettle |
| No. of broods: | Certainly one here, possibly more, but hard to say due to continuous immigration. |
| Flight time(s): | Migrants begin to arrive in late May and can continue to arrive throughout summer. Individuals bred from immigrants begin flying from about early July. (Egg to adult takes only 6 weeks). |
| Winter: | Some emigrate in autumn, a few hibernate and others die. A few may survive in any of the life stages. During mild winters over-wintering adults may often be seen on warm days. |
| Habits: | Ivy flowers are a favourite in the autumn. Quite difficult to approach. Larvae are solitary and live in an easily found tent formed from nettles leaves. |
| Habitats: | Anywhere nectar or nettles can be found. |
