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 49 - 72 of 989 verified sightings
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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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Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: JenniferLupine
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: SuesB
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: SuesB
Region: Lewis County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Arley
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Itasca County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Wallowa County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
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Observation date: May 19, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 20, 2023
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Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: JNaylen
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: May 17, 2023
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Observation date: May 21, 2015
Submitted by: Todd Boland
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 16, 2023
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Observation date: May 13, 2023
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 14, 2023
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Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 08, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 09, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 07, 2023
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Observation date: May 15, 2021
Submitted by: wildebynature
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Apr 15, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 16, 2021
Submitted by: wildebynature
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Apr 15, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 27, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 26, 2011
Submitted by: Todd Boland
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
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Observation date: May 11, 2012
Submitted by: Todd Boland
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
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