![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SapTreeButterflies3inaRowonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\")
<\/a>\nButterflies will line up along a crack to get at the sap. At one time there were 5 all in a vertical row.<\/em><\/p>\n
This Anglewing Butterfly Doesn\u2019t Have a Comma or a Question Mark On the Underwing<\/h2>\n
When I was sorting through my photos at home in the afternoon, I noticed that one of the \u201cpunctuation mark\u201d butterflies had very plain undersides to its wings. Usually there is a white comma or a white comma with a dot. This one, which was a bit larger than the other butterflies, had unmarked wings.<\/p>\n Fortunately, it opened its wings a few times while I was watching it and I took a photo of the top side of the wings. At the time, I noticed the white dots and they really stood out when I looked at the photos again at home.<\/p>\n I checked my copy of The ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario for details on the different Commas and the Question Mark. I thought maybe one of the types of Commas had a subtler marking. Instead, I found a photo that matched mine: It\u2019s a Compton Tortoiseshell, also called a \u201cFalse Comma.\u201d It is related to the Commas and the Mourning Cloak.<\/p>\n I was very pleased to add this to my \u201cRiverwood\u201d collection. One by one, I\u2019m learning the butterflies and moths that I see on my walks there. When I add one to my mental list, it gives me another creature to keep an eye out for on my rambles. For instance, I first saw a Baltimore Checkerspot near the maintenance loop. I haven\u2019t found one there again, yet, but I keep looking!<\/p>\n During the off-season for butterflies, I made a point of checking the leaves on the sap tree. It sounds like an easy thing to check but they were so few in number and so eaten by the early summer last year that I wasn\u2019t quite sure.<\/p>\n I was pleased to see both a white curved line and a white dot on the underside of one of the Anglewing butterflies on the sap tree. I haven\u2019t seen as many Question Marks as I have Commas.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, after comparing it with images in my guide, I think this may be a Comma. The “dot” seems to be in the wrong place and the forewings are not particulary “hooked.” So I’ll have to keep looking!<\/p>\n This is some type of Comma, most likely an Eastern Comma.<\/em><\/p>\n The Northern Pearly Eye is a butterfly even though its light brown colour tricks many people into thinking it\u2019s a moth. The habit of basking with its wings open, like a moth is more likely to do, may also be part of the i.d. problem.<\/p>\n Each time I see one of these active butterflies, I try to get a clear photo, which can be tricky in the shade. In southern Ontario there are similar related butterflies like Appalachian Browns and Eyed Browns. I haven\u2019t knowingly seen any but Northern Pearly Eyes. I\u2019ll keep looking, though. Until today, I\u2019d never knowingly seen any Compton Tortoiseshell\u2019s either!<\/p>\n I\u2019m used to seeing Mourning Cloak butterflies in the very early spring. Sometimes I see them on sunny days even when there is still snow and ice on the ground. That\u2019s because some over-winter as adults and emerge to lay eggs as soon as possible. Their caterpillars will eat the tree leaves almost as soon as they unfold.<\/p>\n It\u2019s now the first week of July, though, and one of the two Mourning Cloaks I saw today was not particularly battered. It is likely part of the second generation. If so, it probably pupated this spring and emerged not long ago.<\/p>\n Today I saw three small moths in and around the sap tree. I have no idea what any of them are called and I only managed to get photos of one type. (They all were quite differently coloured.) I\u2019ll hope that some of them will be around the tree again later this week for another photo op.<\/p>\n Last year, I found quite a lovely large moth on the trunk of the tree. It didn\u2019t appear to be after the sap when I saw it, but it may have been taking a sip the previous night. I still haven\u2019t identified it yet, either. So many moths, so little time! At least now with my Peterson Field Guide to the Moths with its excellent illustrations I have a fighting chance.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA Compton Tortoiseshell Or False Comma Butterfly Sets Down In Mississauga<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nFor a size comparison, here is an orange Comma walking quickly towards the crack where a different Comma or Question Mark (top) and the Compton Tortoiseshell (bottom) are already sipping.<\/em><\/p>\nWhat Kind of Sap Are These Butterflies, Moths, Wasps and Insects Flocking To Feed On?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>
\nWhen I zoomed in on these shots on my computer, I realized I have some photos of the caterpillars busy eating all the leaves off again this year: if you click on the photo and look to the far right you’ll see one of them at work.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n<\/em>This spring I confirmed that it is an oak tree. If anyone has an opinion about the type of oak (it appears to be a White Oak) please leave a comment. I know there is a small possibility of Swamp Oaks being present in this area and there may be other types I have not even heard about.<\/p>\nMy First Look at a Question Mark Butterfly In Mississauga This Summer–Or Not<\/h2>\n
<\/a>
\nActually, I wish I had seen the top sides of the wings on this butterfly. I\u00a0 now think it’s a very large Comma with a broken comma rather than a question mark. The forewings are not particularly “hooked.” Opinions are welcome: please leave a comment!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nWhat Is This Medium Sized Brown Butterfly or Moth With Many Eyespots On Its Wings?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>
\nThe “pearl” is probably the light ring around the dark eyespot.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThis is the view I usually have of the underwings. I rarely see them perched with their wings open. Notice the second dot of the 4 on the forewing is very small.
\n<\/em><\/p>\nDo Mourning Cloaks Fly In the Summer or Only In the Spring?<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThis one was not particularly battered and may have matured this spring. You can see it’s not at the sap right now: the butterflies were also looking for mates and rivals.<\/em><\/p>\nA Mystery Moth, or Three, on the Sap Tree<\/h2>\n
<\/a>
\nThis moth is dime-sized.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThis very small moth looked like a piece of orange-brown leaf stuck on the bark.<\/em><\/p>\nOther Insects Sip Sap Too<\/h2>\n