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 313 - 336 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 18, 2022
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 02, 2004
Submitted by: Ilse Gebhard
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 30, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2012
Submitted by: cabinndawoods
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: ELFredrickson
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: von40827
Region: Leslie County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Metcalfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 02, 2022
Observation date: Dec 13, 2021
Submitted by: k.wolbach
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 18, 2021
Observation date: Dec 03, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 04, 2021
Observation date: Mar 30, 2021
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Nov 18, 2021
Observation date: Nov 10, 2021
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 27, 2016
Submitted by: Julesanne
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: Apr 11, 2017
Submitted by: mercretas
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: Mar 10, 2016
Submitted by: B. Elby
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: Oct 12, 2012
Submitted by: jtylerbell
Region: St. Marys County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2017
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Mar 18, 2018
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 05, 2021
Observation date: Dec 29, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Link
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Mar 24, 2019
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Feb 08, 2019
Submitted by: AlissaK
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: AshNota
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
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