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 1 - 24 of 5835 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 15, 2025
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Warren County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Warren County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 27, 2025
Observation date: Aug 07, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 2025
Submitted by: SaraStreams
Region: Scott County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 20, 2025
Observation date: Oct 11, 2025
Submitted by: David Allio
Region: Fountain County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Oct 11, 2025
Submitted by: David Allio
Region: Fountain County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Oct 05, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Oct 04, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 04, 2025
Observation date: Oct 03, 2025
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 25, 2025
Submitted by: Bibby_Jones
Region: Franklin County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 27, 2025
Submitted by: Steph K
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 28, 2025
Submitted by: Steph K
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 20, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: beverlynantz
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
Observation date: Sep 11, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: leskokid
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 30, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 12, 2025
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