Comma
Image: Hieronymus Bosch (Public domain)
Common NameComma
Scientific NamePolygonia c-album
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatWoodlands, forest edges, hedgerows, gardens, parks
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia to Japan
Host Plantshops, nettles, elms, currants, sallows
Flight PeriodMarch to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Caterpillars are spiny and mottled brown and white, resembling bird droppings. Adults can overwinter, often hibernating in tree hollows or dense vegetation.
Identification TipsKey features include the deeply scalloped wing margins, the tawny orange and black upperwing pattern, and a small white 'C' mark on the underside of the hindwing (though not visible in this image).
Description
A medium-sized butterfly characterized by its distinctively jagged, scalloped wing margins, with upperwings typically tawny orange and marked with dark brown and black blotches.
