Regional Species


Comma
Polygonia c-album

Photograph by Janet Graham

Regional Species

The Comma is widely distributed in North Wales although it is unusual to see more than one or two at a time. Typical habitats include gardens (not too tidy!), woodland glades, hedgerows and sometimes even semi-improved pasture. There have been significant changes in abundance over the years and it may be that the butterfly is more common now than at any time in the past century.

The adult butterflies emerge from hibernation and lay their eggs, on Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica), in the spring. A proportion of the resulting larvae develop rapidly, pupate and emerge as a mid summer generation of adults. These breed again, resulting in a second generation of adults in late summer/early autumn. The remainder of the larvae, however, adopt a different strategy. These develop slowly to emerge as adults that do not breed in the same year. Both the first generation and the second generation adults enter hibernation together. Individuals adopting the double-brooded strategy differ in appearance and are known as form hutchinsoni.

The larvae are superbly camouflaged as bird droppings.

The Comma is a beautiful butterfly that presents no identification problems. It is often noted on the first warm days of spring.

Further information available from the NW Lepidoptera Database, including access to detailed records, maps, flight-time charts and photographs.