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Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Content is no longer being updated and may contain broken links. |
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Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Content is no longer being updated and may contain broken links. |
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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies Lepidoptera Nymphalidae Nymphalis californica California Tortoiseshell |
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Size:
wingspread 1.75-2.2 in. Recognition: Orange with black and brown wing borders and black patches in FW, including two distinctive patches on leading edge; Milbert's tortoishell (N. milberti), which is found in the same range, has solid black area next to abdomen and distinct reddish orange markings along leading FW edge. Flight period: On the wing from late June until fall, when they overwinter until the following spring. Hostplants: Wild lilacs (Ceanothus species). Habitat: Woodland and scrubby mountain terrain are their normal home, where they prefer open areas; males 'hilltop' seeking mates. Distribution: Mainly along the Pacific coast; largely restricted to wetter areas than ours, though a relatively frequent colonist/migrant here. Other: Every couple years or so, Nymphalis californica will migrate in the millions over great distances, and in these years, strays are recorded in many otherwise atypical locales. 
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