Thursday, May 1, 2008

Is it a moth or a butterfly?

This beautiful guy was fluttering around my garden for the longest time. I spent probably twenty-five minutes chasing it around with my camera, trying to get a good shot. With my telephoto lens on, I'm not the most graceful thing and I kept inadvertently bumping the various branches it would sit on, of course causing it to immediately fly away. Its dusty grayish color at first led me to believe it was a moth, but once I saw that tongue and the way its wings folded up, it made me think it was probably a butterfly:



Anybody know for sure?
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11 comments:

  1. Farmer JenMay 1, 2008 at 11:37 PM

    Your photo is amazing! It looks like a moth to me, but then I don't know much about moths or butterflies. Do moths have tongues?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 2, 2008 at 4:58 AM

    I'm 99% sure it's a butterfly. Moth's have "comb" antennae, where butterflies have straight smooth antennae.

    I think.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CarlaMay 2, 2008 at 7:12 AM

    It's a Green Comma butterfly. We are insect freaks at our house and I have a butterfly id book.
    http://www.pbase.com/mwalker427/image/64953248

    ReplyDelete
  4. EveMay 2, 2008 at 8:53 AM

    Hi Danni,
    I believe this is a California Tortoiseshell, a butterfly. I'm using Kaufman Focus Guides Butterflies of North America. It's a great book to have handy. You were very paitent to get these shots and did a great job...even if some trees were damaged in the process!! hahaha! Aint living in the country grand!!!

    PS I posted this earlier and it didnt got through! :-( I dont know whats going on today!!
    Now go have fun.

    ReplyDelete
  5. NW Nature NutMay 2, 2008 at 8:53 AM

    I looked it up in an Oregon butterfly book and I think it's some type of Checkerspot butterfly, maybe a Zephyr Angelwing. Was it orange on the top of it's wings? Maybe if you google it, you can narrow it down. Very cool! My Painted Lady larvae are turning into cocoons now. It's a fun project to raise them. I'll have to post photo updates.

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  6. EveMay 2, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    Wow three different ideas on what it is!!! Now I REALLY want to know! I go to http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 a lot to get expert advice on all kinds of crawlies!!! Maybe you could submit a pic and see what they say!! I'm sticking with my guess but I could be wrong!

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  7. PatMay 3, 2008 at 4:28 AM

    http://www.vireos.com/zephyrcomma.html

    I believe this is your butterfly

    ReplyDelete
  8. PatMay 3, 2008 at 4:33 AM

    http://www.laspilitas.com/butterflies/Butterflies_and_Moths/California_tortois_shell/California_tortois_shell.html


    but then, maybe this is it, lolol

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  9. CarlaMay 3, 2008 at 11:28 AM

    Okay, we all agree it's a butterfly and not a moth. :)

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  10. MarigoldMay 4, 2008 at 7:51 PM

    The goat agrees with the butterfly people. However, I don't have any idea what kind of butterfly. I tend not to pay too much attention to these kinds of things unless they take an interest in my Peanuts.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gus, Louie and CallieMay 11, 2008 at 9:22 AM

    We want to wish your mom a very Happy Mom's Day. Canine Mom's and human Mom's are very special people.. Be sure and give your Mom extra kisses on this very special day!!

    Happy Mom's Day!!
    Gus and Louie

    ReplyDelete

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