Comma Query

[Robin]

Hi,
I photographed these two Comma in Straits Inclosure last July. The first (dark one) doesn't look quite right, but I can't find anything like it in A S Harmer or on the Cockaign website or UK Butterflies. So I wonder is it a known aberration or does it just exhibit part of the normal variation in Commas?

I think the second is a hutchinsoni but would apprecate some confirmation of that.

Thanks
Robin

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Robin,

The first is definitely an aberration and the second is, I believe, hutchinsoni. Felix (Piers) will no doubt pop is head in here soon to confirm - he'll also be able to tell you the aberration too! As you know, he's also writing an article for the Hants and IOW report on aberrations, so we might want to use that photo of yours

Cheers,

- Pete

[KeynvorLogosenn]

Robin,
I've never seen an aberration for myself, but yours is certainly stunning and has just inspired me to search harder this year!
Em

[Piers]

Hi Robin,

Your (very nice) photograph is of a Comma ab. obscura, first described in 1916 as having 'broad, dark marginal bands on both fore and hind wings, without the yellowish marginal spots'. This description fits your comma to a tee, and what a striking looking butterfly it is!

Felix.

[Robin]

Hi Piers,
Thanks for the aberration id. The specimens of obscura in both the Cockayne collection and Russwurm's illustrations in "Variations in British Butterflies" by Harmer put me off that conclusion as they look quite different. Do you have any other sources that I could refer to for future reference?
Thanks again
Robin

[Padfield]

While you've got the book open at the right page, Felix, could you cast your expert eye over these pictures of a female comma, taken near Woodbridge when I was a lad? I called them 'semiobscura' at the time, because they looked like my illustration of obscura but weren't quite as extreme. Or I might have called them semisuffusa... that is the name that actually comes to my mind when I think back, but I seem to have labelled them semiobscura on my website.




Thanks,

Guy

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi all,

I must admit, I looked over ab. obscura on the Cockayne database when I saw this comma in the autumn as the image on the database doesn't quite match but the description does indeed fit exactly, as Piers says.

More pictures and comments at: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3645

However, going by the lighter ground colour, the shallow wing scallops AND the time of year, could Robin's comma be an ab obscura of hutchinsoni ?

Cheers

Lee

[Piers]

However, going by the lighter ground colour, the shallow wing scallops AND the time of year, could Robin's comma be an ab obscura of hutchinsoni ?

I reakon so, Lee.

Felix.