Comma

Polygonia c-album

Description

Wingspan 50 - 64mm. A bright, orange-brown butterfly with very ragged outer edges to its wings, mostly marked with dark brown spots and some paler spots. The undersides of the wings are dark brown with markings in darker and lighter shades and the hind-wing has a white comma-shaped mark on it. There are two broods each year, the brood that overwinters being much darker than the summer brood which is called form hutchinsoni. There also are sometimes some very dark individuals in the autumn brood.

Habitat

Woodland rides, woodland edge, hedgerows and gardens. The larvae feed mainly on nettles and the adults like to nectar on brambles and buddleja.

Status and distribution

Common and widespread in southern Britain. Common in Nottinghamshire and at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

March to September.

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - male - August 21st 2016

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - male - August 19th 2012

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - male

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - male - September 11th 2020

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - male - September 14th 2014

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - female - September 16th 2012

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - female - July 24th 2011

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - dark female - September 25th 2023

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - female - July 13th 2006

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - female - July 15th 2013

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - form hutchinsoni - female - September 14th 2014

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - form hutchinsoni - female - July 6th 2014

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - form hutchinsoni - female - July 19th 2015

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - caterpillar - July 14th 2013

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - pupating - June 21st 2016

  • Comma - Polygonia c-album - caterpillar - May 22nd 2025