Compton tortoiseshell

(Nymphalis l-album)

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Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
S5 - Secure

Minnesota

not listed

Description

Compton tortoiseshell is a brush-footed butterfly. It occurs across in Europe, Asia, and North America. In Canada it occurs throughout the country but is most common in the southern half. In the United States it is mostly restricted to the northern third of the country, from Maine to New Jersey in the east to Washington in the West. In Minnesota it occurs in the northeastern two-thirds of the state but is most common in the Arrowhead region. It is found in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests, in orchards, and in suburbs.

Compton tortoiseshell is a medium-sized butterfly but one of the largest brush-footed butterflies. Adults have a 2 9⁄16″ to 3 1⁄16″ (64 to 78 mm) wingspan. The margins of all four wings are jagged. The hindwings each have a small, tail-like projection.

On the forewing the basal area is dark brown. The base color of the remainder of the forewing is rusty-orange to yellow. There is a black spot in the discal area and an S-shaped black band in the median area. In the post-medial area there are three black spots and also a black patch on the leading edge (costal margin). In the subterminal area there is a row of golden-yellow spots, a thin dark band, and a black patch at the wingtip (apex). A small white spot separates the black postmedial and subterminal patches.

The hindwing is similar but with just two black patches separated by a white spot, no black spots, and a thin black subterminal line.

The underside of both wings is mottled dark and light brown. There is a small silvery mark in the middle of the hindwing, but it is inconspicuous and easily overlooked if not searched for.

Size

Wingspan: 2 9⁄16″ to 3 1⁄16″ (64 to 78 mm)

Similar Species

Habitat

Coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests

Ecology

Season

One generation per year: April through late May, late-June through July, and late August through late October.

Behavior

Larvae feed in groups

Life Cycle

Compton tortoiseshell is one of the first butterflies to be seen in early spring. Adults emerge from hibernation in late March to early April. They fly until late May, during which time they mate and the female lays small clusters of eggs on willow, poplar, and birch trees. When the eggs hatch the caterpillars feed on the leaves. Adults of the new generation emerge from late June to early July. They often estivate in mid-summer and become active again in September. In late October they hibernate in a hole in a tree or in a protected area on a building.

Larva Food/Hosts

Leaves of willow, poplar, and birch trees.

Adult Food

Flower nectar, sap, and the juices of rotting fruit

Distribution

Sources

7, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/21/2025).

Quinn, Edward. M., and Ron Danielson. April 27, 2009. A Survey of Lepidoptera in Three Priority Areas of the Minnesota State Parks System. https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/projects/consgrant_reports/2009
/2009_quinn_danielson.pdf.

Occurrence

Common

Taxonomy

Order

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (Butterflies)

Family

Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Subfamily

Nymphalinae (Checkerspots, Anglewings, Peacocks, and Allies)

Tribe

Nymphalini (Ladies, Anglewings, and Allies)

Genus

Nymphalis (Tortoiseshells)

Genus

The correct placement of this species is a matter of ongoing debate. It was originally described as Papilio vaualbum in 1775. It was historically placed in various genera but has been widely treated as Nymphalis in modern literature. Almost all sources today place it in the genus Nymphalis, but GBIF places it in Polygonia.

Species

The correct species epithet is also a matter of ongoing debate. It has long been known as Nymphalis l-album, and that is the name found in older North American field guides. Many modern taxonomists use the name Nymphalis vaualbum, and a few sources use the name Polygonia vaualbum.

Some sources argue that the species epithet “vaualbum” has been demonstrated as invalid because when it was submitted it “was not accompanied by a description, definition or indication,” and the oldest valid name is Papilio l-album. Moving it to the currently accepted genus, the full species name becomes Nymphalis l-album (Esper, 1781).

Some sources point out that the name Nymphalis vaualbum is older, and therefore has priority. They argue that even if the 1775 name is shaky, it was “validated” by later usage or that the brief mention did constitute an “indication.”

More recently, molecular studies have suggested that the Compton Tortoiseshell is more closely related to the Commas (Polygonia) than to Tortoiseshells (Nymphalis), and should be moved to that genus.

Nymphalis l-album is the name used by ITIS, NCBI, BugGuide, Moth Photographers Group, iNaturalist, and A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada (the “Pelham Catalog”). iNaturalist generally follows the Pelham Catalog, which is why those two sources align

Nymphalis vaualbum is the name used by Butterflies and Moths of North America and Discover Life.

Polygonia vaualbum is the name used by GBIF, Catalogue of Life, and The Global Lepidoptera Names Index.