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 1108 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 13, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2026
Observation date: Jul 23, 2026
Submitted by: John Heneghan
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 18, 2026
Submitted by: Corry Anne
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 21, 2026
Observation date: Jul 15, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 15, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 15, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 13, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2026
Observation date: Jul 12, 2026
Submitted by: M_dub21
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 14, 2026
Observation date: Jul 10, 2026
Submitted by: pdxgene711
Region: Hood River County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 13, 2026
Observation date: Jul 06, 2026
Submitted by: MarciaMT
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2026
Observation date: Jun 23, 2026
Submitted by: Donnacain
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 01, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Jun 29, 2026
Submitted by: lewismagpie
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: Tser
Region: Washington County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2026
Observation date: Jun 21, 2026
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 21, 2026
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2026
Observation date: May 14, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 19, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: bmshafai
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 17, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
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