Species account

Kirsebærtakvinge (Nymphalis polychloros)    Linnaeus (1758)
   Takvinger (Nymphalidae)    LATO    24875
Large Tortoiseshell (gb)   Olmera (es)   Körsbärfuks (se)  
Measurements:
WS: 53-69mm
Generations:
1
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
Identification:
+ less serrated wing edge than xanthomelas
- the two inner black spots on the upper forewing are more often melted together than on xanthomelas.
- all the other field characters...
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
N Africa, C and S Europe, Turkey, S Russia, C and S Urals, Kazakhstan and Himalayas.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Overwintering animals peak second week of April.
Status:
Rare in Denmark. Rare to scarce in Sweden and Finland. Numbers depend on number of migrants from east.
Comment:
In Scandinavia more common to find overwintering individuals than newly hatched.
Large Tortoiseshell 1295    (12 photos)    (1 videos)
2023-04-09    Näsby Fält (Kristianstad), Sweden

Imago
Target species of the day. But our main spot to look for it, at Venestad, didn't give us anything, and after walking around for an hour or more without any at our backup spot either, we were about to accept to settle with some fine xanthomelas (Østlig Takvinge) and a mating pair of E. versicolora (Birkespinder). But then suddenly, while looking for a antiopa (Sørgekåbe) we had lost (I scared it off accidentally with my shadow), this magnificent creature was sitting 4 meters up on this trunk just soaking up the last sun of the day. I called out to the others but they were a bit away and thought that I was referring to the antiopa, because I was just shouting that I have it! Only when I got more precise did the old legs start running!

And then just after my two companions had gotten the first quick looks of the animal, a xanthomelas came out of nowhere and chased away the polychloros. A moment of panic arose, because it looked like we lost it. But after sa short while it came back and landed on the trunk again. Obviously the best spot around at this time of day. We got it very fine, as you can see, and in addition while searching for it, we managed to find more xanthomelas, and could leave the spot with a total of 4. See photos of all under that species.

The place, on the shore of Arallövsjön is a mix of open fields with blackthorn and mixed trees including willows and aspen trees. The last photo is the tree where the animal was sitting. Not sur if it is an aspen tree.