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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 193 - 216 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
Observation date: Apr 12, 2023
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 15, 2023
Observation date: Apr 11, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 12, 2023
Observation date: Apr 03, 2023
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Apr 10, 2023
Observation date: Apr 01, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: RJErickson
Region: Warren County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 01, 2023
Observation date: Mar 26, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 27, 2023
Observation date: Mar 21, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Mar 27, 2023
Observation date: Mar 23, 2023
Submitted by: Ralph313
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 23, 2023
Observation date: Mar 04, 2023
Submitted by: sedges
Region: Georgia, Stephens County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 15, 2023
Observation date: Feb 27, 2023
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: McCormick County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
Observation date: Mar 01, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 05, 2022
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Nov 09, 2022
Observation date: Oct 20, 2022
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 25, 2022
Observation date: Oct 06, 2022
Submitted by: kbg
Region: Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 10, 2022
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: Drydenme
Region: Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Oct 12, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Oct 05, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 30, 2022
Observation date: Sep 26, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 30, 2022
Observation date: Sep 14, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
- ‹ previous
- 9 of 245
- next ›