Satyr Comma
Polygonia satyrus (W.H. Edwards, 1869)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is bright yellow-orange; forewing with two black spots near center of bottom edge; hindwing lacks a dark border, has a black spot in center of wing. Underside is light and dark golden brown, median band relatively straight; hindwing with a silver comma in center.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4/5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: In late afternoon, males perch on tree trunks and low vegetation in woodland openings to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly, in stacks, or in groups on the lower side of nettle leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and make a shelter by pulling down and fastening the edges of a leaf with silk. Adults hibernate.
Flight: Two to three flights on the Pacific Coast from February-November; two flights in Colorado, Nevada, and Saskatchewan from June-September; one flight in remainder of range from July-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various nettles (Urticaceae species).
Adult Food: Tree sap, rotting fruit, flower nectar including that from blackberry and almond.
Habitat: Valley bottoms, along streams, wooded prairie ravines, marshes, openings in riparian woods, fields and edges near moist woods.
Range: Southern Yukon and Northwest Territories south through western Canada and western United States to Baja California, southern Arizona, and southwest New Mexico; east across the Great Lakes states to northern New England and Nova Scotia.
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 241 - 264 of 1021 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: Ronnie Boy
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 11, 2020
Submitted by: ebianco
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2017
Submitted by: KirstenO
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: JudithLD
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2020
Submitted by: anneepierce
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: May 15, 2014
Submitted by: victor.romano@l...
Region: Douglas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2020
Observation date: May 26, 2020
Submitted by: sseagrave
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 01, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Jkfnp
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2020
Submitted by: mhenning
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 14, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2018
Submitted by: I Spy Butterflies
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Apr 20, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen C. Morehouse
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 22, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Mar 31, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Apr 05, 2020
Observation date: Feb 19, 2020
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2020
Observation date: Feb 16, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 21, 2020
Observation date: Dec 25, 2019
Submitted by: Gbsnibby
Region: Park County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: Sailortom
Region: Bonner County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 11, 2019
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