Habitat ³

Adults emerge from hibernation in May and frequent sunny, low elevation areas with abundant birch trees. The spiny caterpillars feed on the birch leaves, and pupation occurs by late July. Adults emerge in late July and later in August seek hibernation sites such as hollow trees, unheated buildings, and attics. Their abundance in Yukon and Alaska has apparently greatly increased over the past ten years.

Distribution ³

Yukon: Southern Yukon.
North America: Central Alaska east to Newfoundland, south of the
northern US states
Global: North America and Eurasia

Distinguishing Features ³

Upperside of the wings orange-brown with black markings, with a white bar and white spots on each forewing. The underside of the wings is mottled grey-brown with a cryptic bark-like pattern and a white “comma” shaped mark. The angle wings (Polygon species) Baffin Bay are similar in appearance, but are smaller and do not have the white bar and spots on the forewings.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) D. Gordon E. Robertson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Compton_Tortoiseshell,_Temagami.jpg
2. (c) Alpsdake, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Nymphalis_vaualbum_%28Mount_Haku%29.JPG
3. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CalPhotos
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Lepiforum
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム

Range Map

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

iNaturalist.ca Map