A Wee Butterfly

From The Raptor:

This wee butterfly was seen in the Mingary area on Thursday 10th February, an unusual sighting as it is still quite a bit outside the normal flying season for this particular butterfly which is a Small Tortoiseshell. It's not usually flying until well into March.

It is quite a common butterfly in this area of Scotland. Although their numbers are falling they are not yet in any danger. The main cause for their decline is the larva of a small fly which lays its eggs on the common nettle, which is the main food source for the Small Tortoiseshell which also lays its eggs on the nettle. The fly larva is eaten by the butterfly larva, and then the gore begins as the eaten larva then begins to eat the butterfly larva from the inside (lovely).

Anyway I wish this wee fella all the best.