Summary ⁷

The Green Comma (Polygonia faunus) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in North America.

General description ⁸

The predominantly grey underside is most like that of P. progne, P. oreas and P. gracilis; the Green Comma has a more mottled rather than a two-toned underside, and the moss-green patches in the margins of the underside will serve to distinguish it. There is some variability over this species' distribution in the province, and it is unclear at the time which subspecies names are best applied (N. Kondla, unpubl. data).

Distribution ⁹

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 ¹⁰

Boreal forest clearings and roadways, occasionally occurring in the aspen parkland.

Migration ¹¹

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

While several species in this and related genera are somewhat to strongly migratory there is no evidence that this one is. There are no records far outside of its usual range, although it did formerly turn up farther south than it does now.

Behaviour ¹²

Adults feed on flower nectar, mud, carrion and dung. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

Conservation status ¹³

Not of concern.

Threats ¹⁴

Degree of Threat: Medium

Taxonomy ¹⁵

Comments: Includes P. hylas and P. silvius, formerly considered separate species as subspecies. However. taxonomy does not affect ranks since subspecies itself is T5. See separate documentation (EGR, CAG) for subspecies P. f. smythi.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) J. N. Stuart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/21786539@N03/4928350550
2. (c) Didier Descouens, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Polygonia_faunus_MHNT.jpg
3. (c) Didier Descouens, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Polygonia_faunus_MHNT_dos.jpg
4. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/lepidoptera/Nymphalidae_O-P/Polygonia0091/medium.jpg
5. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/lepidoptera/Nymphalidae_O-P/Polygonia7739/medium.jpg
6. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/lepidoptera/Nymphalidae_O-P/Polygonia7816/medium.jpg
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonia_faunus
8. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886302
9. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886301
10. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886303
11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28753138
12. (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/20605091
13. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886299
14. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28753131
15. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28753125

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

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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