Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis l-album (Denis and Schiffermüller)S1 (Highly state rare)    Synonyms: Aglais j-album, Hodges #4430, Nymphalis vaualbum, Papilio v-album, Papilio vau-album, Vanessa j-album.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Nymphalidae   >   Genus Nymphalis   

Status:

Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum) is an attractive nymphalid species, related to the more familiar Mourning Cloak. This butterfly is ranked as S1 (highly-state-rare) in Maryland, and is considered endangered. The flight time ranges from April to October (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith). This species hibernates as an adult, and butterflies may be seen in the first spell of warm weather in spring. Compton Tortoiseshell also ranges through Europe and Asia.

Relationships:

Compton Tortoiseshell uses birches, willows, or aspens as larval hosts (Allen 1997).

There are 23 records in the project database.

View images at BugGuide

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FRCLMO HOBA BCHACEPGAA CV CH SMKEQACNTA DOWI SOWO
A Compton's Tortoiseshell in Arnprior, Ontario (7/24/2007). In Maryland, Compton Tortoiseshell is a very rare breeder and is considered highly state rare (S1B) and endangered. Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.