California Tortoise Shell butterfly, Nymphalis californica
The California Tortoise shell likes Manzanita flowers for nectar. There are even more Manzanitas in California then Ceanothuses. The can be any where from six inches tall, Carmel Sur Manzanita to twenty foot, the Big berry Manzanita. They are also evergreen. The flowers are pink or white.
The California Tortoise Shell one of the few times that it was sunning itself and let my photograph it.
The California Tortoise Shell Butterfly uses
many, if not all, of the bush Manzanitas
as nectar sources. So far we've seen them on maybe 20 different types
of manzanita, occasionally on o the plants as diverse as Peach
flowers and Ceanothus.
Go to Butterfly Plants Page
Go to Wildlife Page
Las Pilitas Nursery
Go to Butterfly Plants Page
Go to Wildlife Page
Las Pilitas Nursery
The California Tortoise shell likes Manzanita flowers for nectar.
The Larva of the California Tortoise Shell Butterfly feeds on Ceanothus plants. There are over 50 species of Ceanothus found in California. They range in size from two foot anywhere to twenty foot and have flowers anywhere from white, to blue, to lavender. One of this plants common names is wild lilac. It is also evergreen making it an excellent garden plant!
The California Tortoise Shell
butterfly
has large fluctuations in population. Some years there is a huge burst
in population ans in some there are very few to be seen. In years where
the populations are greater there is more migration and these
butterflies can be found in the mountains and northern portions of
California.
The Larva of the California Tortoise Shell feeds on Ceanothus thyrsyflorus repens
Ceanothus cuneatus is eaten by the Larva of the California Tortoise Shell Butterfly.
California Tortoise Shell sipping mud between the rocks.
Who needs to go hunting for big game, when the little game can be very challenging. Buy a camera and try to get good insects, butterfly or bird photos.
Who needs to go hunting for big game, when the little game can be very challenging. Buy a camera and try to get good insects, butterfly or bird photos.
California Tortoise Shell butterfly, Nymphalis californica sipping from a Arctostaphylos Sentinel
California Tortoise shell on Arctostaphylos Mama Bear
California Tortoise Shell butterfly, Nymphalis californica side view. Against a tree trunk this butterfly can disappear.
California Tortoise Shell on Arctostaphylos Harmony
