Green Comma
Polygonia faunus (W.H. Edwards, 1862)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Extremely ragged wing edges. Geographically variable. Upperside is reddish brown with wide dark borders; hindwing border contains yellow spots. Underside is brown, outer half lighter; submarginal spots are greenish; hindwing with L- or C-shaped silver spot in center.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: In late afternoon, males perch on rocks or plants in gullies to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on upper surface of host leaves, which caterpillars eat. Caterpillars are solitary and rest on the underside of leaves. Adults hibernate and mate the following spring.
Flight: One brood from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Small pussy willow (Salix humilis), black birch (Betula lenta), alder (Alnus), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), and gooseberry (Ribes).
Adult Food: Flower nectar, dung, carrion.
Habitat: Forests, mountain streamsides, canyons.
Range: Boreal North America south of the tundra. Central Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico; east across southern Canada and the Great Lakes region to New England and the Maritimes. A separate population occurs in the southern Appalachians.
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 241 - 264 of 1027 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 18, 2019
Submitted by: pdxgene711
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: Bob Patton
Region: Fremont County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2020
Submitted by: Denise Zembryki
Region: Bonner County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Apr 27, 2018
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2009
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Yancey County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: May 27, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 04, 2020
Observation date: Sep 05, 2020
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: JulieLuetzelschwab
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: Rozelle Wright
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: HHTjader
Region: Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: Kathy Darrow
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2020
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: topper72
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: KirstenO
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: Paul Filteau
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: lottiwe
Region: Mineral County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 08, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2017
Submitted by: mouser
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
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