• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• True Brushfoots
  • Gorgone Checkerspot
  • Silvery Checkerspot
  • Harris’ Checkerspot
  • Pearl Crescent
  • Northern Crescent
  • Tawny Crescent
  • Baltimore Checkerspot
  • Question Mark
  • Eastern Comma
  • Satyr Comma
  • Green Comma
  • Gray Comma
  • Compton Tortoiseshell
  • California Tortoiseshell
  • Mourning Cloak
  • Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
  • American Lady
  • Painted Lady
  • Red Admiral
  • Common Buckeye

Compton Tortoiseshell

(Nymphalis vaualbum)

Although found throughout the state, the Compton Tortoiseshell is more common in the northern counties. This species is not common in central Wisconsin, where I have done most of my butterflying, and I have never seen more than one in a day. This species does have periodic fluctuations in numbers and may be abundant in some years and then seemingly disappears for years at a time. In NABA butterfly counts at Sandhill Wildlife Area in 1998–2000, there were 14, 14, and 9 Compton Tortoiseshells counted on the counts. In the last four years there have been none counted on the count, and I have gone there at least 20 times in 2004–2005 and I have never seen this species there.

Identifying characteristics: Below, the Compton Tortoiseshell is very similar to the commas, in fact, it does have a small, silvery mark in the middle of the wing, similar to the Gray Comma. Above this butterfly is mainly an orange and black butterfly with single white marks near the leading edge of each wing. The wings are fairly angular with a small tail on the hind

Similar species: Below, this species may be mistaken for one of the commas, but it is larger than those butterflies and the silvery mark in the middle of the hindwing is very thin and it most resembles the Gray Comma. Above, it differs from the Gray Comma by having bolder black spots and the white spots on the leading edge of all the wings.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, especially trails, openings, and woodland edges.

Flight: One brood. The adults of this butterfly emerge in July, overwinter as an adult, and then mate in the spring.

Abundance: The Compton Tortoiseshell is more common in the northern part of the state, but does have periodic fluctuations in the populations and may be present for a number of years and then seemingly vanish for a period of time.

Recent Compton Tortoiseshell Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
Yesterday	Portage	Wayne Anderson
Yesterday	Wood	Ron Arnold
Yesterday	Bayfield	Ryan Brady
Wednesday	Marinette	Mike Reese
07–10–2008	Portage	Wayne Anderson
07–09–2008	Crawford	Mike Reese

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