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 265 - 288 of 1027 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 19, 2020
Observation date: Apr 29, 2020
Submitted by: OzGirl39
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 02, 2020
Observation date: Apr 12, 2020
Submitted by: asabspade
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 26, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2019
Submitted by: Heidrun
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 23, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2009
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 19, 2019
Observation date: Sep 12, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: May 30, 2004
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 02, 2019
Submitted by: tkww
Region: Bonner County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 05, 2019
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 03, 2019
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: Coronis
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 12, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: flatus
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Cupcakequester
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 22, 2019
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: Vickig
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: B Shulist
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 13, 2019
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: Heidrun
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 20, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jun 10, 2019
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 21, 2019
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