Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
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DISTRIBUTION in North Carolina: Essentially statewide, but no records known from some far eastern counties. The first and only report for the Outer Banks was made in 2006.
ABUNDANCE in North Carolina: Uncommon to occasionally fairly common in the Piedmont and mountains; uncommon in the upper Coastal Plain, but rare in the lower Coastal Plain. Less common than the Question Mark; usually outnumbered about 3:1 by that species in most places where both occur.
FLIGHT PERIOD in North Carolina: As with the Question Mark, there are two broods. Adults overwinter and can occasionally be seen in mid- to late winter. Adults are normally on the wing all of March to mid-April. The first new brood is present in May and early June; they fly sporadically into August, but many individuals aestivate. The second new brood emerges in August and flies to late October, rarely to mid-November, after which the butterflies overwinter by hibernating in hollow logs and other highly sheltered places.
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Distribution, abundance, flight period, and map information provided by Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina.
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 06/07/06 · Ashe County, NC · summer form
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 08/04/03 · Ashe County, NC · summer form
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 09/08/03 · Ashe County, NC · fall form
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 09/05/05 · Ashe County, NC · fall form
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 10/16/03 · Ashe County, NC · fall form