EASTERN COMMA

Polygonia comma

BRUSHFOOT FAMILY (Nymphalidae)

The Comma has a wingspan of 1 3/4 - 2 inches.  This species has 2 color forms.  The summer form is orange with brown spotting on the forewings dorsally, and mostly dark brown on the hindwings.  The winter form is more orange overall with brown and orange spots, and the wings and tails are outlined with a narrow lavender band.  The wings of the summer form are a golden brown ventrally, and the wings of the winter form are a dark brown ventrally.  Both forms have the silver “comma” mark ventrally on the hind wing which is usually clubbed at both ends. The mature caterpillar is about 1 5/8 inches in length.  The ground color can be white, green, yellow or black.  It has stiff, branched white spines along its length and on the head.   

This is a common species in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods that can be seen perched on vegetation, mineralizing at mud puddles and taking sap from tree trunks.  The winter form adult overwinters, hibernating in cracks in trees or logs, and can sometimes be seen flying or sunning itself on warm winter days.

Another name for it is the Hop Merchant.  The underside of the wings are well camouflaged to look like dead leaves.  The caterpillar lives in a loose shelter that it makes by folding under the edges of a leaf.  The host plants of the larva are hops, nettles and elms.