green comma
Polygonia faunus
Summary 5
Polygonia Faunus (wingspan 48 - 51 mm) is a wide spread North American species, ranging from the far north to California, New Mexico and Georgia in the mountains. It prefers northern and mountain woodlands, especially conifers, sunny glades and stream sides. Adults mature in mid to late summer, hibernate over winter, reemerging in spring to mate. Caterpillars feed upon alders, birches, and willows.
Similar species 6
It is most similar to the eastern comma (P. comma), but it can usually be distinguished by the irregular wing margins and the submarginal row of green spots on the underside. It is also strongly associated with the comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) within the genus based on larval development analysis and synaptomorphies.
Distribution 7
The Green Comma is found from Alaska east across the boreal region to Newfoundland and New England, in the west south to California and New Mexico (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999).
Habitat 8
Boreal forest clearings and roadways, occasionally occurring in the aspen parkland.
Behaviour 9
Adults feed on flower nectar, mud, carrion and dung. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).
Sources and Credits
- (c) J. N. Stuart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartwildlife/4928350550/
- (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/7616765488/
- (c) Biodiversity Institute, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/97641477@N04/9720239574/
- (c) Steve Waller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Steve Waller
- (c) bobinmt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/528767
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonia_faunus
- Adapted by Will Kuhn from a work by (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886301
- Adapted by Will Kuhn from a work by (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886303
- Adapted by Will Kuhn from a work by (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/20605091
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Animal Diversity Web
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- BugGuide
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- CalPhotos
- CUIC Insect Images
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- Mass Moths
- Moth Photographers Group
- Moths of North Carolina
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- Pacific Northwest Moths
