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 337 - 360 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Heavy g
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: ChrissyL
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Nov 01, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: kcarrdesigns@ya...
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Nov 25, 2020
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Oct 16, 2021
Submitted by: beefcakestef
Region: Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 28, 2021
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2021
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 20, 2021
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2021
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Wiseman
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Ccwolfanger
Region: Livingston County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2021
Submitted by: TSims
Region: Broome County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: jeanneely
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: Dora Diercks
Region: Randolph County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 27, 2020
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: May 11, 2021
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Linn County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
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