Common Rose Bell vs small tortoiseshell

Notocelia rosaecolana compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Common Rose Bell is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Rose Bell	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Tortricidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Notocelia	Aglais
Species	Notocelia rosaecolana	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Rose Bell and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

Common Rose Bell

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Rose Bell	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Rose Bell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Rose Bell

<em>Notocelia rosaecolana</em>, the common rose bell, is a small tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, order Lepidoptera. It is distributed across Europe and North America, with documented records from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Rose bell moths in the genus Notocelia are leafrollers whose larvae typically feed on plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), particularly wild roses and related species. <em>Notocelia rosaecolana</em> larvae typically shelter within rolled or tied leaves and feed on foliage, flower buds, and stems of their host plants. Adults are small moths with intricately patterned, mottled brown and grayish forewings that provide excellent camouflage on plant surfaces. Adults are nocturnal and may be attracted to light sources. The species typically produces one generation per year in temperate climates, overwintering in the larval or pupal stage. Biological traits such as precise lifespan, body length, and wing measurements remain poorly documented for this taxon in quantitative studies. The species is considered a minor leafroller pest on cultivated roses in some regions of Europe but is generally managed without dedicated control measures in natural habitats.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden