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 385 - 408 of 5868 verified sightings
Observation date: May 16, 2021
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: fluffberger
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 18, 2020
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: May 10, 2021
Observation date: May 02, 2021
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 02, 2021
Observation date: Mar 27, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Apr 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: vbuller
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 24, 2021
Submitted by: TrailRider
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 23, 2021
Observation date: Nov 04, 2020
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
Observation date: Apr 03, 2021
Submitted by: Littlewing
Region: Crawford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 18, 2021
Observation date: Apr 09, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 16, 2021
Observation date: Apr 14, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 15, 2021
Observation date: Apr 08, 2021
Submitted by: kzmmrmn
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 11, 2021
Observation date: Apr 09, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 10, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Apr 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 18, 2019
Submitted by: lcrimmins
Region: Story County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Apr 03, 2021
Observation date: Mar 21, 2021
Submitted by: David.Josephy
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 22, 2021
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: Mandy Cole
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: May 16, 2015
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Mar 04, 2021
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