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 145 - 168 of 1024 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 31, 2021
Submitted by: deensy10
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: Mar 19, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 16, 2017
Submitted by: Jeanie Arries
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
Observation date: Feb 21, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: flusteredfly
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: Mike Hofmann
Region: Teton County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: rugettes
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Daggett County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Nov 28, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
Observation date: Oct 17, 2020
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2020
Observation date: Oct 01, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 14, 2020
Observation date: Oct 02, 2020
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 13, 2020
Observation date: Sep 28, 2020
Submitted by: Vickie J Anderson
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Oct 01, 2020
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Oct 02, 2020
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 29, 2020
Submitted by: EvSherr
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 30, 2020
Observation date: Sep 27, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 26, 2020
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 19, 2020
Observation date: Sep 04, 2020
Submitted by: kathy lichtendahl
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: EvSherr
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: Beeeater
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: katiefouse
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: Dnalof2007
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
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