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California tortoiseshell

Nymphalis californica

Description:

Characterized by the thick black margins on the wings and the deep orange color. Its wingspan varies from 3.2 to 7 cm (​1 1⁄4–​2 3⁄4 inches). Underside resembles dead leaves (pic 2).

Habitat:

Spotted feeding on Yarrow at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. A combination of sagebrush steppe and open pine forest with thick underbrush along creek and water edges.

Notes:

Ranges mostly in western North America from 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.

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Brian38
Spotted by
Brian38

Washington, USA

Spotted on Jul 7, 2019
Submitted on Jul 8, 2019

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