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 217 - 240 of 1027 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Coos County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: Will Anderson
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: RG65
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Apr 25, 2021
Submitted by: pnesterenko
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 21, 2021
Submitted by: Rccarlson64
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 25, 2021
Observation date: May 29, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: Ssneed
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2016
Submitted by: drerbium
Region: Craig County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 15, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 03, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 05, 2021
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