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 241 - 264 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 17, 2018
Submitted by: KenL
Region: Virginia, Williamsburg, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: Katana88
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: HCGregory
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: itrn93
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 31, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: kcdemille
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: Joe Colacino
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: Joe Colacino
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: Joe Colacino
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2020
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: Ashwnota
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pulaski County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: electricfig
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 14, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2022
Submitted by: Sheryl Johnson
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
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