Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma (Harris, 1842)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Small with short hindwing projections. Forewing above is brownish-orange with dark spots; one dark spot at center of bottom edge. Hindwing above has two patterns: summer form is mostly black, winter form is orange with black spots; both have a dark border containing pale spots. Underside is brown; hindwing with a central silver or white comma which is swollen at both ends.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: Males perch on leaves or tree trunks to watch for females, flying aggressively to chase other insects or even birds. Eggs are laid singly or in stacks under host plant leaves or stems. Caterpillars are usually solitary and feed on leaves at night. Older caterpillars make daytime shelters by pulling leaf edges together with silk. Winter form adults hibernate, some first migrating to the south.
Flight: Overwintered adults fly and lay eggs in the spring until the end of April. The summer form emerges and flies from May-September, laying eggs that develop into the winter form. These adults appear in September or October and soon seek shelter in which to o
Caterpillar Hosts: All members of the elm and nettle families including American elm (Ulmus americana), hops (Humulus), nettle (Urtica), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis).
Adult Food: Rotting fruit and tree sap.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands; woods near rivers, marshes, swamps, and other water sources.
Range: Eastern half of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to central Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 5739 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2023
Submitted by: AlexandriaAnn
Region: Fayette County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Clinton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: Drew Baxter
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 21, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 10, 2023
Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
Observation date: Apr 12, 2023
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 15, 2023
Observation date: Apr 11, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 12, 2023
Observation date: Apr 03, 2023
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Apr 10, 2023
Observation date: Apr 01, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: RJErickson
Region: Warren County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 01, 2023
Observation date: Mar 26, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 27, 2023
Observation date: Mar 21, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Mar 27, 2023
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