Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma (Harris, 1842)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Small with short hindwing projections. Forewing above is brownish-orange with dark spots; one dark spot at center of bottom edge. Hindwing above has two patterns: summer form is mostly black, winter form is orange with black spots; both have a dark border containing pale spots. Underside is brown; hindwing with a central silver or white comma which is swollen at both ends.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: Males perch on leaves or tree trunks to watch for females, flying aggressively to chase other insects or even birds. Eggs are laid singly or in stacks under host plant leaves or stems. Caterpillars are usually solitary and feed on leaves at night. Older caterpillars make daytime shelters by pulling leaf edges together with silk. Winter form adults hibernate, some first migrating to the south.
Flight: Overwintered adults fly and lay eggs in the spring until the end of April. The summer form emerges and flies from May-September, laying eggs that develop into the winter form. These adults appear in September or October and soon seek shelter in which to o
Caterpillar Hosts: All members of the elm and nettle families including American elm (Ulmus americana), hops (Humulus), nettle (Urtica), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis).
Adult Food: Rotting fruit and tree sap.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands; woods near rivers, marshes, swamps, and other water sources.
Range: Eastern half of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to central Texas and the Gulf Coast.
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 1 - 24 of 5782 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 09, 2019
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: sbruenjes
Region: Essex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 27, 2022
Submitted by: myuschak
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2020
Submitted by: Timbreland16
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 01, 2024
Observation date: Oct 26, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Oct 22, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 12, 2024
Submitted by: JimPurvis
Region: Tipton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 13, 2024
Observation date: Oct 11, 2024
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 13, 2024
Observation date: Sep 20, 2024
Submitted by: Kansasbirder
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 27, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Wood County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 19, 2024
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Sep 11, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Summit County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Rush County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: fishrman
Region: Muscatine County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: kcearlock
Region: Christian County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: danahoover
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
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