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 145 - 168 of 1425 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Reg Sinclair
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 12, 2020
Submitted by: MSMSM
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: Jennifer Wycoff
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 01, 2020
Observation date: Aug 31, 2020
Submitted by: Carmel Mothersill
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 01, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: jerrdiam
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: R Uppington
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2020
Submitted by: CurtB
Region: Lapeer County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: tozjohn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: Diane Ewald
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: kathlenn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: Flamelakekaren
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: Carol F
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: HikerGirlCA
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 14, 2020
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: rarecat
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: Damita98
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
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