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Wildlife Spotting

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40.1791, -76.1723

Field Notes

Description:

Orange & black, looks like a dried oak leaf when wings are closed. Unusual shape to wings. Body is very fuzzy with blue/green tint. Antennae have an orange dot on the tip.

Species ID Suggestions

Eastern Comma

Polygonia comma

Reference Link
Fyn Kynd
3

Question Mark Butterfly

Polygonia interrogationis

Reference Link
bee.jacbs
1

Comments (3)
bee.jacbs
It was my understanding that tails were not a good diagnositc measure because of the natural wear. The resources I have read indicated the best field mark was the subapical dash on the upperwing which is always absent on the Comma. Perhaps I have misunderstood this.
Fyn Kynd
The "tails" are not long enough for P. interrogationis.
bee.jacbs
Nice spotting Donna. This butterfly is very similar to the Comma butterfly. Both are named for the punctuation shape you can see on the hindwing when it is folded. They are distinguished primarily by a black horizontal marking which your spotting has. Keep up the great posts.
Photographed
PublishedApril 1, 2013

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