• 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

Gray Comma

(Polygonia progne)

The Gray Comma and the Eastern Comma are both found throughout the state in open, wooded areas and along roadsides through wooded areas. The numbers and abundance of individuals of these species varies from year to year. In 2002, I remember telling someone that the Gray Comma was definitely more common in central Wisconsin in my experience, but from 2003–2005, I would have to say that the Eastern Comma was more likely to be seen there.

Identifying characteristics: Above, the wings are orange with black margins and black dots, and a row of lighter spots in the margin of the hindwing. The innermost dot of the forewing dot row does not usually have any faint spot above it. There are two forms of the Gray Comma, just like the Eastern Comma, with the summer form being much darker on the hindwing. In the lighter, fall/spring form of the Gray Comma, there are usually only two noticeable dark spots. Below the silvery comma is very thin and is pointed at both ends.

Similar species: The Eastern Comma is very similar above. The Eastern Comma has a dark spot in the middle of the hindwing that is not present in the Gray Comma. The dot directly above the innermost dot of the forewing dot row is usually nonexistent in the Gray Comma, very faint in the Eastern Comma, and then dark, and obvious in the Green Comma and the Satyr Comma.

Habitat: Open woodlands, woodland edges, and along roadsides and trails through wooded areas.

Flight: Two broods. The Gray Comma over winters as an adult, breeds and has a new generation in June and early July, and then has a second generation in August and September that over winters.

Abundance: Common throughout the state, but probably more common in the northern counties.

Recent Gray Comma Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
Yesterday	Bayfield	Ryan Brady
Yesterday	Shawano	Rose Tiegs
07–12–2008	Bayfield	Ryan Brady

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