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.
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 313 - 336 of 1027 verified sightings
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 05, 2018
Observation date: Jun 17, 2018
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 30, 2018
Observation date: Apr 27, 2018
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Apr 27, 2018
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Sep 27, 2016
Submitted by: Okole1808
Region: Shoshone County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: Wendelin
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: May 30, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: May 14, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 16, 2018
Observation date: May 03, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2018
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 27, 2018
Observation date: Apr 20, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 24, 2018
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 16, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2016
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Feb 05, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2017
Submitted by: DavidLRoper
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 29, 2017
Observation date: Aug 31, 2017
Submitted by: tiorickbutterfly
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: Okole1808
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: rebeccafm
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: taogirl
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
- ‹ previous
- 14 of 43
- next ›