Satyr Comma
Polygonia satyrus (W.H. Edwards, 1869)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is bright yellow-orange; forewing with two black spots near center of bottom edge; hindwing lacks a dark border, has a black spot in center of wing. Underside is light and dark golden brown, median band relatively straight; hindwing with a silver comma in center.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4/5 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: In late afternoon, males perch on tree trunks and low vegetation in woodland openings to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly, in stacks, or in groups on the lower side of nettle leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and make a shelter by pulling down and fastening the edges of a leaf with silk. Adults hibernate.
Flight: Two to three flights on the Pacific Coast from February-November; two flights in Colorado, Nevada, and Saskatchewan from June-September; one flight in remainder of range from July-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various nettles (Urticaceae species).
Adult Food: Tree sap, rotting fruit, flower nectar including that from blackberry and almond.
Habitat: Valley bottoms, along streams, wooded prairie ravines, marshes, openings in riparian woods, fields and edges near moist woods.
Range: Southern Yukon and Northwest Territories south through western Canada and western United States to Baja California, southern Arizona, and southwest New Mexico; east across the Great Lakes states to northern New England and Nova Scotia.
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 97 - 120 of 981 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Logan Miederhoff
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2014
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: sfbaywildlife
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: MikeandShelley
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: dharlette
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Canyon County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: May 31, 2022
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