Attributes of Polygonia faunus

Green Comma
Polygonia faunus (W.H. Edwards, 1862)

Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Extremely ragged wing edges. Geographically variable. Upperside is reddish brown with wide dark borders; hindwing border contains yellow spots. Underside is brown, outer half lighter; submarginal spots are greenish; hindwing with L- or C-shaped silver spot in center.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: In late afternoon, males perch on rocks or plants in gullies to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on upper surface of host leaves, which caterpillars eat. Caterpillars are solitary and rest on the underside of leaves. Adults hibernate and mate the following spring.
Flight: One brood from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Small pussy willow (Salix humilis), black birch (Betula lenta), alder (Alnus), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), and gooseberry (Ribes).
Adult Food: Flower nectar, dung, carrion.
Habitat: Forests, mountain streamsides, canyons.
Range: Boreal North America south of the tundra. Central Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico; east across southern Canada and the Great Lakes region to New England and the Maritimes. A separate population occurs in the southern Appalachians.
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.
Taxonomy Notes:

Images of Polygonia faunus

Click on an image to view full size and to see additional details.





The map below displays all verified sighting records in the BAMONA database for this species. Each record is indicated with a yellow dot. The orange dots on the map provide access to information about the 400 most recently verified sightings of this species. In some instances, there are several records at the same location. Use the table view to access these records.

Instructions: Click on the map and move your mouse to pan.
Zoom by using the plus [+] and minus [-] on the left side of the map.
To change which map layers are displayed, click on the plus sign [+] on the right side of the map.

By default, the fifty most recently verified sightings are below. Sort by Observation Date to see the most recent sightings, or filter the sightings by region to get a regional list.

See more recently verified sightings of all species.

You don't have Javascript enabled. Hover for more information! But don't worry: you can still use this web site! You have two options:
  • enable Javascript in your browser and then refresh this page, for a much enhanced experience.
  • click the Update button every time you want to update the selection.
Observation Date Submitter Region Verified Datesort icon
June 10, 2013 kayjon50 Kittitas County, Washington, United States June 12, 2013 Details
June 01, 2013 PDunwiddie Kittitas County, Washington, United States June 07, 2013 Details
May 26, 2012 fragglecat Boulder County, Colorado, United States February 24, 2013 Details
May 27, 2012 swittwa Chelan County, Washington, United States December 17, 2012 Details
June 17, 1986 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Carson City County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
May 05, 1987 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Douglas County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
May 05, 1987 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Washoe County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
May 02, 2010 Larry522 Essex County, Vermont, United States October 29, 2012 Details
August 12, 2012 John Many Wings Larimer County, Colorado, United States October 05, 2012 Details
September 15, 2012 allelopath Taos County, New Mexico, United States September 21, 2012 Details
September 02, 2012 PDunwiddie Pierce County, Washington, United States September 03, 2012 Details
August 16, 2012 butterflyboys Adams County, Idaho, United States August 22, 2012 Details
July 28, 2012 allelopath Taos County, New Mexico, United States August 10, 2012 Details
July 07, 2012 BOGwalker St Louis County, Minnesota, United States July 11, 2012 Details
July 01, 2012 PDunwiddie Kittitas County, Washington, United States July 02, 2012 Details
June 17, 2011 Tommie Rogers Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States June 12, 2012 Details
August 24, 2010 jim8435wisc Denali Borough, Alaska, United States June 12, 2012 Details
April 08, 2012 plex1ppus Spokane County, Washington, United States April 09, 2012 Details
September 06, 2011 SweetDefense Wallowa County, Oregon, United States March 11, 2012 Details
August 09, 2009 BOGwalker St Louis County, Minnesota, United States February 26, 2012 Details
October 11, 2011 J. Paul Goossen Manitoba, Canada February 07, 2012 Details
September 22, 2010 legacy.reporter (Tom Gagnon) Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States January 01, 2012 Details
September 05, 2009 Larry522 Rutland County, Vermont, United States December 23, 2011 Details
May 27, 2011 J_Martineau Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States November 27, 2011 Details
September 12, 2011 J_Martineau Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States November 27, 2011 Details
May 14, 2011 gerryq Latah County, Idaho, United States November 11, 2011 Details
May 21, 2011 aszure3 Idaho County, Idaho, United States November 11, 2011 Details
August 06, 2011 maddie1001 Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States September 11, 2011 Details
September 07, 2011 davidwdroppers Whatcom County, Washington, United States September 07, 2011 Details
August 26, 2011 Jdammarell Spokane County, Washington, United States September 03, 2011 Details
August 28, 2011 Doug Bruce Bledsoe County, Tennessee, United States August 31, 2011 Details
August 17, 2011 cpcdolan Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States August 27, 2011 Details
May 13, 2011 Matt ODonnell Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States August 08, 2011 Details
May 29, 2011 banfathi99 Alberta, Canada June 11, 2011 Details
May 14, 2011 plex1ppus (plex1ppus) Spokane County, Washington, United States May 24, 2011 Details
May 18, 1968 legacy.reporter (unknown) Sonoma County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
June 02, 1995 legacy.reporter (Keilb, Mike) Alger County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
June 04, 1995 Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller) Mackinac County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
June 04, 1995 Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller) Mackinac County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 08, 1995 legacy.reporter (Heuvelhorst, Bonnie with Rick Baetsen, DennyBrooks, Katherine Carothers, Andy Carter, Mark Jaunzems, Stephen Kay, Karen Lamonte, Janea Little, Mason Schafer, Melvin Schafer, Richard Urbanek, Myrtle Wilke, Robert Wood) Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
September 17, 1996 legacy.reporter (Granlund, Jim) Chippewa County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
August 18, 1997 legacy.reporter (Reinoehl, Jack) Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
April 24, 1999 legacy.reporter (Reinoehl, Jack) Mackinac County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
May 01, 1999 Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller) Marquette County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 22, 2000 legacy.reporter (Johnson, Sharon) Gogebic County, Michigan, United States May 01, 2011 Details
May 27, 2007 legacy.reporter (Armata, Terri) Rutland County, Vermont, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 22, 2007 legacy.reporter (Aversa, Anne) Essex County, Vermont, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 22, 2007 legacy.reporter (Eldredge, Betsy) Windsor County, Vermont, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 25, 2007 legacy.reporter (Hack, Ed and Sandy) Windsor County, Vermont, United States May 01, 2011 Details
April 19, 2007 legacy.reporter (Hack, Ed and Sandy) Windsor County, Vermont, United States May 01, 2011 Details