365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Satyr Comma, Polygonia Satyrus
Day 197: Of the Polygonia species found in the Pacific Northwest, the Satyr Comma (P. satyrus) can be distinguished in the dorsal view from its very similar relative, the Green Comma (P. faunus) by the lack of yellow or yellow-green spots inside the margin of the hind wing. That said, the Commas are named for a small whitish figure which appears on the underside (ventral view) of the hind wing. In P. satyrus, this strongly resembles the comma of punctuation, a "head" with a "tail." In P. faunus, the marking is more L-shaped and angular. Both species fall into the category of "big orange butterfly," a safe simplication which makes them no less enjoyable in the field.
Labels:
butterfly,
Pack Forest,
Polygonia satyrus,
Satyr Comma
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