First butterfly

 

Today, March 31st, I saw my first butterfly of the year: a comma. Can someone tell me which one it is?

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5 Responses to First butterfly

  1. tina wynecoop says:

    Compton tortoiseshell

    I am sharing your post with John Baumann, one of our local experts here in Spokane, for verification, since I am not an expert.

    Tina

  2. John Baumann says:

    Hey, lovely photo! Tina Wynecoop forwarded a link to your cool website. The butterfly is sometimes called the “False Comma” and is much less common than most Comma species, it’s the Compton Tortoiseshell. We see them down south here in Spokane Co but once in a blue moon, you may have more of them in your area. Jon Shepard is a lepidopterist who lives up in your area that may be interested in this report. He co-authored the book on butterflies of BC.

    John Baumann, Spokane

    • Alistair says:

      John, thank you. I learn butterflies every spring and summer, and then forget them again each winter. Chuckle, it is a hazard of taking an interest in too many things. Yes, I know John Shepard and have his book. I can pass the observation on to him; I hadn’t realized that it might be more than a ho-hum observation.

  3. tina wynecoop says:

    (John emailed me back and confirmed:)

    You’re right, these are beautiful shots. The butterfly is the much less common Compton Tortoiseshell. Nice catch!

    John

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