'Punctuation' Flutterbyes ... (fer true!!)

Spotted this lil beautie .. while sitting on the front porch this afternoon. It had sat down over on a bush (I don't even remember the name of it now) .. And decided I'd go try to take a wee bit closer look at it. Pretty co-operative lil thang .. Posed real well for me. It seemed most content at tolerating me .. all the while I was slippin' jes a wee lil bit closer .. every couply shots or so ..

From my one lil book I have here .. it seems to me, that it fits the bill .. to being one of the Angled-Winged beauties .. called, the Comma!! Tho' it could be one of the other 'punctuated' flutterbyes - possibly, the Question Mark. Yeppers, yet another 'punctuated' flutterbye !!! But the underside patterns and lack of 'as vivid' the colors .. don't quite measure up to matchin' the ?'s !!

There's two 'colorations' to both, the Comma and the Question Mark. .. and this one, seemed to be sportin' the new Fall attire!!

However, until the admonished and highly respected Master Kennedy (or one of the other dependable and respected co-horts) come on the scene - - I'm leaving the option open; that it may could be the Question Mark .. (but kindly doubt it).

So, for now, I'm temporarily referring to it, as . . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #1

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #2

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #3

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #4

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #5

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #6

At this point .. (altho' I'd have honestly expected it to stick its nose up at me!) .. it opted to stick its fanny up at me instead ! ! !

This, throws me the proverbial 'curve' ball .. and I'm at a total loss at having any clue as to why ... UNTIL ...

. . . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #7

. . . until . . . I look jes a lil bit closer .. and then I clearly see . . .

That she's been laying her eggers !!!!

(oh, it jes killed me to think that this lil buttefly was being 'snooty') .. hee hee ..

Ohhhhh my! How very thrilled I was, and so BLESSED I felt !!!

What a special lil treat of nature ... from this highly 'punctuated' little beauty !!!

I was ... and am still feeling ... most honored .. to witness this - for it is a 1st for me !!


. . .The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #8

LAST of . . . The Punctuation Flutterbye .. Pic #9

Thought I'd fix this lil diddy up and post it also ...
Just to make certain that all of you folks .. could see this ONE precious lil egg .. of which I was blessed for the very 1st time in my life - with witnessing !!!

See, I packed up and went on my merry way (with quite a big ol grin across my lunatict face, I mite add) .. and left her alone ... So's she could get back to more 'portant aspects and pressing duties ... of 'egg layin' !!

Hope you've enjoyed it also !!

- Magpye

I enjoyed your photo essay very much, Mags! Thanks.

A lovely series of poctures. You are clsoe in your identification, but you chose the wrong punctuation. This one is the Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/construct-species-page.asp?sp=Polygonia-interrogationis#photo-4
The white dot inside the comma, changes it from a comma to a question-mark! The upper wing is also different from the comma.

Wow Magpye! I was so impressed with the camouflage on this leaf mimic that when I got down to the pics where she opened up her wings...it was amazing to see such wonderful colors. That by itself was a great photo essay for me. But then you surprised us even more with the close-ups on her laying her eggs. WOW! What a wonderful thing for you to witness up close in in person! Lucky you! :-)

-Julie

Appreciate all of your comments, and so glad you guys enjoy these pics! Julie, I'm still grinning from ear to ear today. I tell ya, it was such a thrill for me. Felt like a lil girl with her very first baby doll!! hee hee ..

Kennedyh ... are you purtee sure about your determination ? .. I thought the edges of the wings resembled the ? more, but the undersides, is what really had me baffled! I'd read the info about the distinct 'punctuation' markings, just as you've stated - but I felt those markings weren't quite distinct enuff - for 'me' to tell !! ... ha ... I appreciate any further input ..

Thanks so much ..

- Mags

This message was edited Nov 25, 2005 12:05 PM

Can you two help me out a little? I just cannot for the life of me figure out where this comma or question mark...and certainly no white dot....are supposed to be. Please help!

-Julie

Nevermind...Duh! You only see it in the first of all those pics. I wonder why it doesn't show up in the other pics with her wings closed. Reflected sunlight perhaps?

This message was edited Oct 5, 2004 6:23 PM

Yes Magpye, I am quite sure that it is a Question Mark. There are several clear pointers. First the shape of the wings is quite distinctive, with much smoother edges than the Comma's and the distinct tooth on the outer edge of the forewing. Then the underside markings are much plainer than the various Commas, which all have patterns of dark brown and near white on the underside. Then there is the dot inside the comma, which gives it its name. This is quite distinct in your first picture and is just visible oin all your underwing shots. Then turning to the upper wings, the pattern of dark spots on the forewing is distinct. You will see one squarish spote and on the question mark, there are six round spots surrounding this. The commas all have only 5 round spots. Definitely a ? and not a ,

This message was edited Oct 6, 2004 7:11 AM

I honestly tried to coerce her .. to move just a lil bit, 'out' of the shade of that one lil leafy limb - for a couply shots! But it was a no-go. Also, tried, once .. to shove the limb away somewhat, but it would be just spring back to where it was. Just mitey glad I didn't opt to break the limb off and out of the way ...

Bless her lil heart, she was in the wee lil shady area of those leaves, for a specific reason .. And the ol lunatict lady kept wartin' the fool out of her!! .. hee hee .. But, afterwards, when I finally realized that she was laying her eggs .. I was ever so glad that I'd not pursued it further!

There was just hardly any avoiding that lil bit of shade .. And there was certainly no optional positions that I could've moved to, either ... Sadly, using the flash only worked on one or two of them.

In all seriousness .. I'm not absolutely sure myself, about recognizing the specific markings, on the butterfly in the pics I've posted here. I think that I do see what Kennedyh is referring to tho' .. as far as the 'white spot being inside the comma', etc. ... Take a look and see if these next pics helps us both out!! ... LOL ..

One other (and larger) photo of the butterfly I shot .. and then, two other photos that I've scanned from my lil book .. and posted here. (not necessarily in that order) ..

- mags

the 2nd SCANNED Pic ...

My other 'punctuated' flutterbye pic (larger view of undersides, with dot and comma) ... Geez, maybe it's the lighting that makes the underside COLORATION of 'mine' .. not correspond with those of the Question Mark in the photos from the book! ..

My eyesight is not what it should be .. so, here I am trying to figger something out with a handicap!! hee hee hee ..

The 'Duh, Magpye', at it once again !!

Kennedyh, I owe you an apology and hope that you will try to look over my trying to 2nd guess you (and myself!) .. in those other posts .. please .. ? Again, thank you so very much!

- Mags

Magpye, you are just too darned cute to be so worried about this little butterfly and her eggs. They'll be just fine I'm sure. And you didn't mean any harm even when you were completely unaware of the egg laying she was at. I definitely see the punctuation in both your photos as well as the ones you scanned from the book. But I hafta say that I only see it because it was pointed out that there is supposed to be this marking on their wings....I'd NEVER in a million years have seen those marks if I'd taken those photos myself. Dunno how anyone ever figured out this was a marking especially since it doesn't show up unless in the right lighting! A butterfly expert I will never be! LOL

-Julie

I can identify that butterfly, it's a Leafius lookia-likia.

Beautiful job Magpye! I cannot believe you got that egg shot. So professional! National Geographic will be a callin' you ;)

Oh wow .. EWL .. It'll work fer me, in a pinch .. !!! .. LOL ..

(A good'un too !! .. hee hee.. )

Thanks folks ..

- mags

This message was edited Nov 25, 2005 12:03 PM

kennedyh .. I don't know how on earth, that I'd apparently missed seeing your 2nd post (on Oct 5, 2004 @ 4:10 PM) .. up there!! (where I continued to 'cluck about' more, afterwards .. hee !!) ? ...

But ... I DID! ... I've just tonight (11:23 PM 10/10/04 Sunday nite CST) ... noticed that post !!

... Please accept my humble apologies .. for failing to pay closer attention .. ? ..

THANK YOU so much KENNEDYH ..

- mags

Hi Magpye! I did wonder from your later post if you hadn't seen my follow up.

Are you happy that you have your punctuation right now LOL?

uhh huhh .. Yeppers .. I sure am most happy that you've got me straightened out about the flutterbye ...
kennedyh!! ..

* But, I'm afraid I may be a 'lost cause' fer the punku-a-shun or spellun' .. Hah!

Mite I take it .. that your 'giggle-joke' post .. means, that I'm fergiven .. jes a lil bit ? Hmmm? ... hee
(.. Gosh doggit - I sure hope so ..)

A kind and gallant feller you are kennedyh ..

- Magpye

Only punctuating the butterflies, not your delighfully elegant prose!
Ken

This message was edited Dec 5, 2005 11:25 AM

This message was edited Dec 5, 2005 12:46 PM

Magpye,

Great photos of a Question Mark. It's been a month by now since you first posted that...did you ever notice any caterpillars or chrysalides? If so, sure would like to see photos of them.

~ Cat (south tip of Texas)

Geezers, Cat .. How on earth I'd missed your post - till now: I'll never know.
(goodness, does time fly!)

I can see better 'thru my camera' (on my monitor), than with my own spyballs .. but no ma'am, I either never noticed them, or they were jes 'way too wittle' to see. (hee)

I do apologize for another display of what is rapidly becoming a major 'oh-oh', for me lately ..

- Magpye