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 25 - 48 of 1066 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Wolfie2t
Region: Sanders County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: pgericks
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: May 28, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: May 20, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 13, 2025
Submitted by: pgericks
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 13, 2025
Observation date: Apr 05, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2025
Observation date: Apr 05, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 06, 2025
Observation date: Feb 28, 2025
Submitted by: lbenson
Region: Del Norte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 28, 2025
Observation date: Feb 26, 2025
Submitted by: cevmendo
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Feb 25, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Feb 22, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2025
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
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