Another distinctively coloured, but smaller (wingspan: 34 to 52 mm) tortoiseshell. The basal part of the upperside of both wings is brown, with a broad bright orange to yellow band close to the wing margins. The hind-wings have blue spots between the orange band and the irregular outer margin. There are two orange patches on the costa of the fore-wing in the dark basal area. The underside is dark brown in the basal area and lighter brown towards the margins.
Abundance: Milbert's Tortoiseshell is fairly common in most of its Canadian range and does not fluctuate as greatly in numbers from year to year as does the California Tortoiseshell.
Flight Season: This butterfly is on the wing from April to October, with possibly three overlapping generations. Specimens emerging from hibernation in the spring are usually quite pale and worn.
Habits: A quick, active species that flits rapidly about its territory, often along a woodland road. It regularly alights on the ground or on a rock or tree with its wings spread flat. It feeds mostly on sap, rotting fruit, and animal dung, but is also seen nectaring on flowers.