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Compton Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis vaualbum (Denis and Schiffermüller)
Attributes of Nymphalis vaualbumFamily: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Subfamily: True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae) Identification: Upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases and black spots; a single white spot on leading edge of each wing. Underside is mottled gray and brown, with dark bases and borders; hindwing with small white V at outer end of cell. Life history: Eggs are laid in clumps on the host plant, and caterpillars feed together. Adults hibernate, sometimes in groups. Flight: One brood lay eggs of the next generation, which flies from July-November before hibernating. Wing span: 2 1/2 - 3 1/16 inches (6.4 - 7.8 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Aspen and cottonwood (Populus), willows (Salix), gray birch (Betula populifolia), and paper birch (B. papyrifera). Adult food: Sap, rotting fruit, nectar of willow flowers. Habitat: Upland deciduous or coniferous forests. Range: Southeast Alaska and Canada south in the mountains to Montana and Wyoming; east across southern Canada and the northern United States to New England; south to North Carolina and Missouri. Rare migrants to Newfoundland, Nebraska, and Florida. This species is also found in temperate Eurasia. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Nymphalis vaualbum
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