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 1083 verified sightings
Observation date: May 25, 2026
Submitted by: Clpa
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2026
Observation date: May 22, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: May 13, 2026
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 16, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 16, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: menloparker
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2026
Observation date: May 05, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 06, 2026
Observation date: Apr 21, 2026
Submitted by: lewismagpie
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 24, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 05, 2026
Observation date: Mar 28, 2026
Submitted by: Silverwind
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 27, 2026
Submitted by: eissfeldta
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 26, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 07, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 12, 2026
Observation date: Mar 08, 2026
Submitted by: menloparker
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 12, 2026
Observation date: Mar 02, 2026
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 04, 2026
Observation date: Mar 02, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 03, 2026
Observation date: Nov 09, 2025
Submitted by: zencoyote
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 10, 2025
Observation date: Oct 16, 2025
Submitted by: c.y.anderson
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2025
Observation date: Oct 07, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 28, 2025
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 2025
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 26, 2025
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