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 265 - 288 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 04, 2022
Submitted by: Sheryl Johnson
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: marvant
Region: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: Chrysanthemum
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: Ohio
Region: Lorain County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: rtsmith
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2009
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 13, 2021
Submitted by: mysorekid
Region: St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: sam_hartzler
Region: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: tmlehman
Region: Adams County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Mar 21, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: Lancaster County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 15, 2022
Submitted by: SGubanc
Region: Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2022
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2015
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: ships333
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2020
Submitted by: oliver wagner
Region: Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2022
Observation date: May 16, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2022
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: May 11, 2022
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