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 217 - 240 of 5867 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: calvertm
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 09, 2022
Submitted by: ydlrun
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: elkeno
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 14, 2022
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Union County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: BMcNaught
Region: Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2022
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: datilson
Region: Clarke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: ReginaS
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: Louise Dawson
Region: Genesee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2022
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: drfrench
Region: Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2022
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Miami County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2019
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
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