Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1342772

Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma

Observation date: September 05, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I don't see thickening at the ends of the comma
Status: Resident
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: September 05, 2022
Coordinator notes: Fall/Spring form. You can tell this from the summer form by the lack of dark coloration to the dorsal HWs and the gray/purplish HW margins. P. satyrus would likely have light/pale dorsal HW margins (unlike the gray/purplish margins in your individual), and the yellow submarginal spots on the dorsal HW usually fuse together to look more like a line (although the individual spots may still be prominent sometimes). On the ventral side, the pattern is often striated lengthwise top to bottom, and often times there would not be a light band filling into the "cup" of the comma itself. Definitely a difficult ID regardless - hope this helps! -jmgesell
Checklist region(s): Canada, Ontario