Observation date: November 04, 2022
Submitted by: tom howe
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: On white asters, probably Symphyotrichum pilosum. Note large spot past cell end on forewing and apical spot in upper corner. First found by Bob Howdeshell about 2 weeks ago
Status: Resident
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: November 09, 2022
Coordinator notes: This is B. communis, a male. B. communis and B. albescens vary a bit in white spot patterns. In B. oileus the marginal edge of forewing does not exibit the very uniform white "checker" pattern as this butterfly is showing, rather "checker" pattern for B. oileus is broken and appears with less white - the white checkering being farther apart and interspersed with dark brown. Fewer white spots on marginal edge than both B. communis and B. albescens. Also B. oileus has much less white pattern spots overall, from basel to marginal/apex the wing shape is much more elongated that B. communis or B. albescens. B. albescens males lack the extreme hairy inner thorax/inner areas than this pictured species. B. oileus would have been a nice record for TN though. Thank you! JAMES STEEN
