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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) » Question Mark - Hodges#4420 (Polygonia interrogationis)
Photo#668524
Large orange butterfly, brown hind wings - Polygonia interrogationis
Copyright © 2012 Wildlife Sightings

Large orange butterfly, brown hind wings - Polygonia interrogationis
Halifax, McIntosh Run Trail, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada
June 25, 2012
Size: about 8cm wide
Seen a few lately, not sure what they are despite the distinct color pattern.
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Contributed by Wildlife Sightings on 4 July, 2012 - 3:08pm
Last updated 5 July, 2012 - 8:18pm

This is definitely a Question Mark
The Comma is very similar looking, but that extra spot is a give-away. Also, the shape of the wings is a bit different and the Question Mark is a larger butterfly than the Comma.

This one fills in a blank spot on the BugGuide map for Nova Scotia too.

Moved from ID Request.
… David J. Ferguson, 5 July, 2012 - 8:18pm login or register to post comments

Looks like
A Question Mark (P. interrogationis). It has an extra spot on the forewing that the others usually lack.
… psweet, 4 July, 2012 - 4:24pm login or register to post comments

Polygonia
The three species are compared in the guide here midway down the page. You can check this out while you wait for the butterfly experts.
Thanks
… Maury J. Heiman, 4 July, 2012 - 3:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Eastern Comma
I was thinking Polygonia comma as it mentions the dark hindwing color pattern here and the eastern canadian range.
… Wildlife Sightings, 4 July, 2012 - 6:35pm login or register to post comments

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