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 49 - 72 of 5788 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Mar 02, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: Ty-Sharrow
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 08, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2023
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: keleptose
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2023
Submitted by: Edoyle451
Region: Tioga County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 22, 2023
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 08, 2023
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 04, 2023
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