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Wildlife Spotting

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38.8989, -120.048

Field Notes

Description:

Resembles the local pine tree bark on the underside of the wings and blends in when the wings are closed. On the top of the wings, when they're open, the butterfly is orange and black with a thick tuft of orange fur on the body.

Habitat:

Trees near the lake shore

Notes:

This butterfly was very friendly and stayed on my hand for a long time. After the wind would kick up and blow it away, it would fly back and land on me again.

Species ID Suggestions

Hoary comma

Polygonia gracilis

Reference Link
KarenL
1

Comma

Polygonia sp.
bayucca
1

Comments (4)
KarenL
There is a really great resource for North American butterflies Bayucca - www.butterfliesandmoths.org
bayucca
Thanks Karen, I wasn't really sure about the species.
KarenL
Welcome to Project Noah Melissa! I'm pretty sure that this is a Hoary comma.
bayucca
Easy one at first sight: Definitely a Comma, Polygonia sp., but which one?? Sorry I can't separate them would be easier if it was one from more in the South. So you need some folks from US which might get closer than the genus: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Polygonia_a.htm

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Mimetic Animals of the World
Mission
Northern California Entomology

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJanuary 22, 2012

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