Compton Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis vaualbum (Denis and Schiffermüller)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: 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.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 1/16 inches (6.4 - 7.8 cm).
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.
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.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 1418 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: Louise Dawson
Region: Genesee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2022
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2021
Submitted by: Jacqulyn123
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: mdelorme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2016
Submitted by: RHoltslander
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: one72guy
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: wilderneyes
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 07, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 21, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 2022
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 21, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2022
Submitted by: W. R. Evans
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 14, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 10, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 11, 2022
Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: cdemers
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2019
Submitted by: tynah1994
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 04, 2022
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