Orange & Black Moth - Polygonia comma - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc. (Nymphalinae) » Nymphalini » Commas, Question Mark (Polygonia) » Eastern Comma - Hodges#4421 (Polygonia comma)

Photo#1561833

Copyright © 2018 Michelle Hammell

Orange & Black Moth - Polygonia comma

Washington County, Illinois, USA
July 17, 2018
Size: 2-3"

I've seen this pretty moth several times flitting around my property during the middle of the day, but when I took this photo at 2:15pm, it had landed on the side of my van, and continued to perch there for quite some time. I haven't ever seen it near the bee balm or butterfly bushes feeding like other butterflies or moths.

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Contributed by Michelle Hammell on 22 July, 2018 - 3:56pm
Last updated 10 August, 2018 - 7:40am

Moved

Moved from Butterflies and Skippers.

… Ken Allison, 10 August, 2018 - 7:40am

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Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Kyhl Austin, 28 July, 2018 - 1:23pm

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Looks like one of the Polygon

Looks like one of the Polygonia. You'll need someone better than me to tell you which for sure, but here's a possible example:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/197221

The adults tend to feed on sap more often than flower nectar, so that would explain why it's not interested in the bee balm.

… Maggie Furtak, 22 July, 2018 - 5:01pm

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Black and Orange Moth (Actually Butterfly!)

Thanks so much! I though it was a moth because of it's furry body, but I've never really known the difference between the two as far as identification. Also, thanks for explaining why I never see it by any flowers. Also I just saw it again on some old dried up leaf litter and realized it's size is more 1-2" (instead of the 2-3" I originally entered). It was hard to remember exact size without anything to compare it to on the side of my van. Thanks again!

… Michelle Hammell, 25 July, 2018 - 10:59am

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Eastern Comma

Yes, Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma. A butterfly rather than a moth.

… Ken Allison, 22 July, 2018 - 6:16pm

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Black and Orange Moth - Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma

Thank you so much for the clarification. I don't recall seeing them before, but I've only started paying attention less common ones I'm seeing!

… Michelle Hammell, 25 July, 2018 - 11:02am

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