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 145 - 168 of 1026 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 25, 2022
Submitted by: Thom Garrett
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 24, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: Mills9
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: lindsaykhopkins
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2022
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: starmock
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 14, 2022
Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2022
Submitted by: Labman
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 06, 2022
Observation date: May 22, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 06, 2022
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