California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is orange-brown with large black spots and dark wing borders. Underside looks like a dead leaf and is dark mottled brown with darker wing bases; hindwing does not have a centered silver spot.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 3/4 inches (3.2 - 7 cm).
Life History: Males perch in the late afternoon to look for females. Eggs are laid in bunches on the host plant; caterpillars eat leaves and feed together when young. Adults hibernate.
Flight: One brood overwinter. They fly the following spring until April or May, mating and laying eggs for the next brood.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various species of wild lilac (Ceanothus).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Chaparral, woodland, brush areas, forest clearings and edges.
Range: British Columbia south along the Pacific Coast to Baja California Norte, east to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Rare migrants to Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont after periodic population explosions in Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Nymphalis california
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1026 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 07, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 26, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2024
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2024
Observation date: Sep 10, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 10, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: Vickie J Anderson
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Lupine1
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: joeearp
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Baker County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: wingz2fly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Kootenai County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Rich
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 10, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 10, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
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