Comma
Image: Alexey Venetsianov (Public domain)
Common NameComma
Scientific NamePolygonia c-album
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)52.5
Primary Colorsorange-brown, dark brown, black
HabitatWoodlands, forest edges, hedgerows, gardens, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia, North Africa
Host PlantsStinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Elm (Ulmus spp.), Hop (Humulus lupulus), Currant (Ribes spp.)
Flight PeriodApril to September (two or three broods)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny, mottled brown and white, resembling bird droppings. Pupae are brown, resembling a dead leaf or twig, and hang head down. Adults overwinter.
Identification TipsLook for the unique jagged wing margins, the orange-brown and dark spotted upperside, and the white 'C' mark on the cryptic brown underside when wings are closed.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly characterized by its distinctive jagged wing margins, an orange-brown upperside with irregular dark spots, and a cryptic, leaf-like brown underside featuring a white 'C' mark.
