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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 5739 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 27, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 21, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: Jeff Hansen
Region: Sanborn County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 08, 2023
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 08, 2023
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 30, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Haywood County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: nc1marm
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: MarkSCitsay
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Harrison County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: Missmarple
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: birdsongsarah
Region: Washington County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: D Nussbaum
Region: Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 240
- next ›