• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• True Brushfoots
  • Gorgone Checkerspot
  • Silvery Checkerspot
  • Harris’ Checkerspot
  • Pearl Crescent
  • Northern Crescent
  • Tawny Crescent
  • Baltimore Checkerspot
  • Question Mark
  • Eastern Comma
  • Satyr Comma
  • Green Comma
  • Gray Comma
  • Compton Tortoiseshell
  • California Tortoiseshell
  • Mourning Cloak
  • Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
  • American Lady
  • Painted Lady
  • Red Admiral
  • Common Buckeye

Green Comma

(Polygonia faunus)

The Green Comma is a species of only the northern counties of the state. It is called a Green Comma because of the greenish submarginal bands on the under wings. Ebner in the “Butterflies of Wisconsin” said that this is the, “best distinguishing characteristic” for identifying this species. From looking at photos online and in books, it seems that this characteristic may possibly be more useful only for pinned specimens, since I doubt that I would have noticed the greenish color in any of them without knowing that they were Green Commas.

Identifying characteristics: Very similar to the other commas in the state. Above, the Green Comma has somewhat more jagged edges, the black margins of the wings are more distinct, a prominent yellow spot band on the hindwing, and a dark spot above the innermost spot on the forewing. Below, the comma is thick and often clubbed or hooked at one end and has greenish bands of spots near the margins of the wings. Females are variable below and may be more uniform colored, as noted in Nielsen’s “Michigan Butterflies & Skippers”.

Similar species: Above, this species is similar to the Eastern and Gray Commas, but has very jagged wing margins and is more boldly marked with black including a prominent black dot above the innermost dot on the forewing dot row that is lacking or faint in the Eastern Comma or Gray Comma. The Satyr Comma has this black spot also, but does not have a row of yellow spots on the hindwing. Below, the Green Comma is difficult to distinguish from the other commas, especially in overwintered, worn spring butterflies, where the bands of greenish spots near the wing margins are difficult to see. It is best to see both the upper and lower wings to help with identifying this species.

Habitat: More confined to woodlands than the other commas. This species is found in boreal forest habitats and is most often seen sunning itself along woodland trails.

Flight: One brood. This species overwinters as an adult, flies and mates in the spring, and then fresh butterflies are seen in late July through September, when they hibernate for the winter.

Abundance: Uncommon in Wisconsin even in the northern counties where it occurs.

Submit a Green Comma sighting »