Eastern Comma

Polygonia comma

It gets its name from a tiny, bright silver mark on the underside of its hindwing that looks exactly like a comma punctuation mark.

Scientific name: Polygonia comma
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae › Polygonia
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, river valleys, swamps, and damp wooded edges.
Diet: Tree sap, rotting fruit, animal dung, and occasionally flower nectar. Larvae feed on nettles, hops, and elms.
Range: Eastern North America, Southern Canada, Midwestern United States, Appalachian Mountains
Size: Wingspan of 4.5 to 6.4 cm (1.75 to 2.5 inches).
Lifespan: Adults of the summer generation live a few weeks, while the overwintering generation can live up to 10 months.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Habitat fragmentation, heavy pesticide use, and the clearing of host plants like nettles and native elms.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. You can safely observe this butterfly at a close distance as it basks on logs or tree trunks. If it lands on you, it is likely seeking the salt and minerals in your sweat; remain still and gentle to avoid startling it.

Polygonia comma , the eastern comma , is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae.

Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist