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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#881961
Nymphalidae, Eastern Comma, dorsal - Polygonia comma - male
Copyright © 2014 MJ Hatfield

Nymphalidae, Eastern Comma, dorsal - Polygonia comma - Male
Plymouth Rock, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
September 30, 2008
A friend says: "Polygonia interrogationis -- but the dorsal image forewing is missing an identifying mark that all P. interrogationis normally have"

Images of this individual: tag all
Nymphalidae, Eastern Comma, dorsal - Polygonia comma - male Nymphalidae, Eastern Comma, lateral - Polygonia comma - male
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Contributed by MJ Hatfield on 6 January, 2014 - 7:45am
Last updated 21 January, 2014 - 8:19pm

Definitely P. comma
The pattern is typical for this species on both sides. The comma mark is confusing, because it is broken, but this is not a rare occurence in this species (just not common either). It is normally broken in the Question Mark, but not always. So, it's more of a useful rule of thumb than absolute rule, but not always. That's the problem with relying on a single trait, there are almost always exceptions.

Moved from Question Mark.
… David J. Ferguson, 7 January, 2014 - 9:58pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
for clarifying.
… MJ Hatfield, 8 January, 2014 - 5:05am login or register to post comments

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