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 169 - 192 of 1016 verified sightings
Observation date: May 25, 2013
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2022
Observation date: Mar 25, 2022
Submitted by: John Saba
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 26, 2022
Observation date: Mar 24, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 25, 2022
Observation date: Mar 25, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 04, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 10, 2022
Observation date: Mar 06, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: Mar 06, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 30, 2021
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: eric_hough
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 25, 2021
Observation date: Mar 14, 2020
Submitted by: eric_hough
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 25, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2021
Submitted by: StacyN
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2021
Submitted by: StacyN
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 24, 2021
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Delta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 31, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Oct 05, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 28, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: mongoose
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: mongoose
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
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