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 289 - 312 of 1027 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 10, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2019
Observation date: May 19, 2019
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 19, 2019
Observation date: May 11, 2019
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 13, 2019
Observation date: Apr 26, 2019
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 28, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 11, 2019
Observation date: May 02, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2018
Submitted by: crurik
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 07, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ekker
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: Randy K in Topeka
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: bebay40
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 19, 2018
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: Stefan Kreitmeier
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2018
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Aug 28, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 28, 2018
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: CarolineBristol
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 13, 2016
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 31, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 01, 2018
Submitted by: sallyfriou
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 03, 2018
Observation date: Jul 27, 2006
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 03, 2018
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