Observation date: August 10, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Warm, sunny day. Many butterflies of various species coming to waterfall and mossy rocks for water before flying off to patrol woods on either side of the road. When this butterfly noticed me watching it darted a short distance, folded its wings and dropped to the blacktop. Had a hard time spotting it again until it opened its wings. Folded, shadowed wings blended well with rock and blacktop.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: July 27, 2022
Coordinator notes: Sandy: This likely is Polygonia oreas but there is no ventral photo to be sure. Green Comma uppersides can be similar though the prominent hindwing spot is frequent in oreas. Oreas undersides are very blackish while faunus undersides may come in a number of different patterns, some very blackish too. Polygonias often need to have both ventral and dorsal sides viewed. Polygonia oreas is the less frequently seen, but both are prize butterflies! So whichever you have...its great! If you have such a photo, send it to me. My experience with oreas is they love to flit around in poison oak and yes I will get in it with them! And with both species, one must be willing to get their feet wet!-, up to the knees!Ken Davenport After looking at my own Polygonia oreas females, I'm going to go ahead and accept this submission. I've had several oreas submissions this week and fortunately those had lowerside views, important with Polygonia in many cases-Ken Davenport
