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.
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 217 - 240 of 1021 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 26, 2020
Submitted by: Robert C. Turner
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 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 26, 2021
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2021
Observation date: May 01, 2021
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 09, 2021
Observation date: Apr 14, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: sfbaywildlife
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2017
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 03, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 09, 2021
Observation date: May 04, 2017
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 09, 2021
Observation date: Mar 27, 2021
Submitted by: kcomcd
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Apr 21, 2018
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Mar 21, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 23, 2021
Observation date: Mar 17, 2021
Submitted by: lgc
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 23, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2008
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 14, 2015
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Jul 07, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2020
Observation date: Sep 29, 2020
Submitted by: Calloo
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
- ‹ previous
- 10 of 43
- next ›