Green Comma
Polygonia faunus (W.H. Edwards, 1862)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Extremely ragged wing edges. Geographically variable. Upperside is reddish brown with wide dark borders; hindwing border contains yellow spots. Underside is brown, outer half lighter; submarginal spots are greenish; hindwing with L- or C-shaped silver spot in center.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: In late afternoon, males perch on rocks or plants in gullies to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on upper surface of host leaves, which caterpillars eat. Caterpillars are solitary and rest on the underside of leaves. Adults hibernate and mate the following spring.
Flight: One brood from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Small pussy willow (Salix humilis), black birch (Betula lenta), alder (Alnus), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), and gooseberry (Ribes).
Adult Food: Flower nectar, dung, carrion.
Habitat: Forests, mountain streamsides, canyons.
Range: Boreal North America south of the tundra. Central Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico; east across southern Canada and the Great Lakes region to New England and the Maritimes. A separate population occurs in the southern Appalachians.
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 988 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 17, 2024
Observation date: Mar 18, 2024
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: La Plata County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 09, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 12, 2023
Observation date: May 19, 2023
Submitted by: RaquelRobles
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 29, 2023
Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2023
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: FishBaggins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: NatashaG
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Wendelin
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: JenniferLupine
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: pdxgene711
Region: Hood River County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
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