Deciphering Butterflies: Anglewings
These three butterflies look a lot like leaves when in rest due to the mottled brown hindwing. They all also look strinkingly similar with the exception of some subtle clues.
On the dorsal forewing the Question Mark has a black “eyebrow” that other anglewings lack. Ventrally, the silver mark on the hindwing is disjointed at the lower terminus, forming a “question mark”.
Question Mark species page
Dorsally the forewing lacks the ” eyebrow” present on the Question Mark and has three black spots on the hindwing. On the ventral hindwing the silver marking is curved and continuous, often thickened on each end. The appearance of the ventral hindwing is variable, sometimes mottled, but brownish and not particularly striated.
Dorsally the Gray Comma lacks the forewing “eyebrow” of the Question Mark and the third spot on the hindwing of the Eastern Comma. Ventrally the silver mark on the hindwing is straight but kinked in the middle and not thickened at the ends. The ventral hindwing may appear slightly two toned, being darker on the inner half, is less brown (“grayer”) than the Eastern Comma and somewhat striated in appearance.
Gray Comma species page
