Possible ID - bad pic, sorry!

Hi guys,

Everyone was so helpful last time I had a question that I thought I'd ask another, hehe. I have the photo I took of a butterfly that landed on my Mom in late April. At first I thought it was a Painted Lady. Then I thought it might be a Regal Frit. Now I'm leaning toward one of the Commas. I know the photo isn't very good, but I didn't want to get too close and spook it. It wasn't a very big butterfly. The reason I think it's one of the Commas is because of the shape of the edges of the wings. They scoop inward quite a bit, at places. I found a photo of a Zephyr Comma (Polygonia zephyrus) in my butterfly book and I think that may be it... except they're only supposed to be in the West and I'm near Chicago. So, I'm stumped. Anyone have any idea what it could be? I think it's probably in the Polygonia family, at least. I'm so confused. I looked on BugFiles, but it didn't help that much. I should've snuck up and gotten a closer photo!

Thanks for any guesses.
~Kris

Here's the regular size photo - I enlarged the first one and it reduced the quality, rrrrr.

~Kris

If they're supposed to be west, then it's not yours, not exactly...we often have separate butterflies, but all you have to do is find the one in your neck of the woods in that same family.

Go to www.butterfliesandmoths.org and do a "map search" or just click on Illinois. Since you probably have the right family, just scroll down until you see what kinds of Commas you have there.

I saw a photo of one that looked like a reasonable match, but I want you to have the fun of discovery for yourself.

Suzy

Hehehe, thanks Suzy, I will let you know which one I think it is! ;)

~Kris

Hi Kris!
It is a true brushfoot, and it is a Question Mark or a Comma Butterfly... If it is a Comma, it is either Eastern or Gray Comma. Sorry, hard to tell from the pic.

:-Deb

Hmmmmm... well, I went on the site Suzy suggested and I think I'm even more confused than before, lol. I wrote down Eastern Comma, Gray Comma, California Tortoiseshell (it's in our area, weird), and Green Comma (not in our area). I think it looks the most like the Green Comma, but I'm not sure. Checked BugFiles again, too. So, Deb, you think it's either a Question Mark or some type of Comma, hmmm? I don't think it's a Question Mark. I guess I'll just put down that it's a "Comma butterfly." Pic was terrible and I only saw it for a a minute or two. What did you think it was, Suzy?

Thanks for indulging me!
~Kris

Hi Iris!
Here's a tip, If you make a little bit of rotting fruit mash or butterfly brew, the Comma will come back and you can get a better pic.

Here is a recipe for the brew>
http://www.theletteroflove.com/wallpaper/index.php?paged=4

:-Deb

Hi Kris,

I thought it was clearly an Eastern Comma, and that's why I had you go through the legwork (because I thought it would be easy, not to be mean. LOL!).

Now, you saw it in person, so you really know more what it looked like than I, but my guess would still be Eastern Comma.

Suzy

Thanks guys. I might set some fruit out and try again. Saw a red-spotted purple today, so pretty! Suzy, it probably is an Eastern Comma - I'll have to keep my eyes open in case it comes back!

~Kris