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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 986 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 24, 2024
Observation date: Sep 03, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 24, 2024
Observation date: Sep 15, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 17, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Huerfano County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Lupine1
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 18, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: Don Morrow
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 11, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2024
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 16, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: May 04, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 17, 2024
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