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 121 - 144 of 1424 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: Hollyoop906
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 07, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 07, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: Cindy Kindle
Region: Hamilton County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 07, 2021
Observation date: Mar 25, 2021
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Caledonia County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 03, 2021
Observation date: Mar 21, 2021
Submitted by: KVagos
Region: Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: Mar 30, 2021
Submitted by: Glenda Hartley
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 30, 2021
Observation date: Mar 25, 2021
Submitted by: Jacksonfarme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 25, 2021
Observation date: Mar 22, 2021
Submitted by: old guy
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 23, 2021
Observation date: Mar 22, 2021
Submitted by: old guy
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 23, 2021
Observation date: Mar 21, 2021
Submitted by: Dave Grimes
Region: Benzie County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 22, 2021
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: Sahvo33
Region: Isabella County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2020
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2010
Submitted by: Wade Wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Jack Connor
Verified date: Feb 17, 2021
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: Donna Millar
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 22, 2019
Submitted by: Donna Millar
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 09, 2018
Submitted by: Donna Millar
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2016
Submitted by: Amtrekman
Region: Clayton County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
Observation date: Oct 12, 2020
Submitted by: Hyperfig
Region: Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Apr 12, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Herriot
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: jbschueler
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Dec 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 03, 2008
Submitted by: lisagorn
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Nov 04, 2020
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 05, 2020
Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: Geodigger
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Reg Sinclair
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
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