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 265 - 288 of 1021 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 22, 2019
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: cevmendo
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 17, 2019
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Cascade County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: L Reid
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: Franna
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 26, 2019
Observation date: Aug 14, 2019
Submitted by: Coronis
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: N_Santill
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: gkingery
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: abbyemiller
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 10, 2019
Observation date: Apr 28, 2019
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 16, 2019
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: LunaLT
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Lammy01
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Aug 05, 2018
Submitted by: Super Sagie Sci...
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Aug 22, 2018
Submitted by: donmanak907
Region: Haines, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Aug 30, 2012
Submitted by: RNeilson
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Sep 09, 2018
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Oct 30, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: lizmcd
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Wasco County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2018
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