Eastern Comma

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Adult eastern commas may occasionally visit flowers but are more often found on tree sap and decaying fruit. They also visit mud puddles, carrion, and animal droppings.

Noppadol Paothong

Other Common Name:

Hop Merchant

Family:

Nymphalidae (brushfooted butterflies)

Description:

Adults: The orange and black dorsal (top) side of the eastern comma is similar to that of the closely related question mark, but it lacks the question mark’s hyphen-like line over the three black forewing spots. Also, the dorsal hindwing has a central dark smudge that is missing on another close relative, the gray comma. The hindwing has a ragged edge. Summer adults may have the dorsal hindwing completely dark, while the fall generation is more richly colored. The small white curving “comma” mark on the underside of the hindwing has wide, blunt ends. The underside of the hindwing is mottled with different shades of brown to orange-brown, but it is not heavily streaked as in the gray comma.

Larvae: Caterpillars that are whitish to greenish-brown with darker markings and several rows of pale, branching spines. The head has one pair of spines.

Similar species: The gray comma (Polygonia progne) may be slightly smaller overall, but like the eastern comma, its three forewing spots are not topped by a black line. Beneath, however, its wings are heavily striated (finely streaked), its hindwing "comma" marking is L-shaped and narrows to a fine point at each end, and the forewing has a dark outer edge with several black chevrons in it. Also, the hindwing upperside lacks a central dark smudge. Its larval food plants include wild gooseberry (Ribes missouriensis) and its relatives.

Key Identifiers:

Upperside:

The 3 black forewing spots lack a black line above
Hindwing has a central dark smudge

Beneath:

Hindwing "comma" marking has wide, blunt ends
"Comma" mark also lacks the additional dot of the question mark
Hindwing mottled with brown to orange-brown, but not heavily streaked

Also: hindwing has ragged edge

Size:

Wingspan: 1½ to 2¼ inches

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Eastern Comma, Wings Spread

The top side of the eastern comma is similar to that of the question mark, but it lacks the question mark’s short dark line over the three black forewing spots. Also, the comma's hindwing edge is more ragged.

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Eastern Comma, Wings Folded

The eastern comma is named for a small, usually curving, white mark on the underside of the hindwing.

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Eastern Comma Perched With Wings Closed

Viewed from below, the small white curving “comma” mark on an eastern comma has wide, blunt ends. On the similar gray comma, this mark is L-shaped and tapers at the ends.

Habitat and conservation:

Eastern commas fly from spring through fall, in woodlands and along brushy roadsides. It’s possible to see them all year, as overwintering adults are occasionally active on warm, sunny winter days.

Foods:

Larval host plants include nettles (Urtica and Laportea), hops (Humulus), and elm (Ulmus). Larvae usually feed at night, but older larvae may create a shelter for themselves by folding over a leaf using silk. Adults may occasionally visit flowers, but they are more often found on tree sap and decaying fruit. They also visit mud puddles, carrion, and animal droppings.

Distribution in Missouri:

Statewide.

Status:

Breeding resident found in all regions of Missouri.

Life cycle:

Males perch on vegetation and wait for females to come near, flying quickly at other insects if they approach too near. Females may lay eggs singly beneath host plant leaves, but frequently they lay up to nine eggs stacked one on top of the other. The female may be taking advantage of a break in bad weather to lay a few additional eggs, or she might be taking advantage of a good site for egg laying. The fall brood hibernates during winter; in spring they fly and the lay eggs for the summer brood.

Human connections:

For philosophers and poets, butterflies are a source of inspiration and of symbols. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

Ecosystem connections:

Butterflies and moths are very closely linked to their food plants. While the larvae of some species can eat a wide variety of plants, others require plants of only a handful of species. In the case of the eastern comma, the larvae can survive and grow on plants within a few families.