Milbert's Tortiseshell (Aglais milberti)

Description: A medium sized orange and brown butterfly. The upperside is dark brown on the basal half and bright orange on the distal half, with alternating pale and dark markings along the leading edge of the forewing. The margins are dark with a row of blue dots. The underside is greyish-brown on the basal half and paler brown on the distal half. The bold markings of the upperside are distinctive. Wingspan: 34 to 52 mm.

Maritime Distribution: Throughout Maritimes. For Atlas results click here.

Provincial Ranks: NB: S4. NS: S2. PEI: S1S2.

Flight Period: Milbert’s Tortoiseshells overwinter as adults, and can be seen flying from late March to October with fresh specimens appearing in late June. There may be one or two generations per year.

Host Plant: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica).

Notes: This is a forest species, typically seen at the edges of woodlots and along forestry roads.

It is seldom seen in any numbers and is quite rare in most areas. It visits flowers in old fields and forest clearings.