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 25 - 48 of 5775 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: davek
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: Katana88
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: relpeK
Region: Waseca County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 20, 2022
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: bknupp
Region: Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2023
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: coconnor
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Lincoln County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 19, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Grundy County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 16, 2024
Observation date: Apr 08, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Richland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
Observation date: Mar 31, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 10, 2022
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 03, 2024
Observation date: Mar 26, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 03, 2024
Observation date: Mar 24, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pulaski County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 29, 2024
Observation date: Mar 27, 2024
Submitted by: brebre04
Region: Jefferson County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 27, 2024
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