Adelpha californica

California sister
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Adelpha
Species:
A. californica
Binomial name
Adelpha californica
(Butler, 1865)
Synonyms
  • Adelpha bredowii californica (Butler, 1865)
  • Heterochroa californica Butler, 1865
  • Heterochroa bredowii californica Butler, 1865
  • Limenitis bredowii californica (Butler, 1865)
  • Limenitis californica (Butler, 1865)

Adelpha californica, the California sister, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. They are common in California, but can also be found in western Nevada and Oregon, as well as in northern Baja California. The upper surfaces of their wings are dark brown to black with wide cream white bands dissecting both wings and two orange patches near the tips of the forewings. The underside is variously colored with browns, blue, orange, and white. A. californica is unpalatable to predators and is part of a large mimicry complex.