Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Caterpillar

The larvae have a spiny body with a white mark along the back. There are white, black and orange patterns on the body. They actually resemble bird droppings, which often keeps predators away. During the final stage on the larvae, the white color disappears.

Pupa

The chrysalis hangs upside down from trees mimicking dead foliage. It is green and pinkish-brown with gold and silver spots.

Adult Butterfly

Sexual Dimorphism: Females are larger than males.

When unfolded, the dorsal sides of the wings are a brownish-orange with black marks.

In a folded position, their wings are brown and black, resembling the colors of a dead leaf. There is a white curve that looks like the punctuation comma, giving the butterfly its name.

During hibernation, their yellow-brown coloration keeps them hidden among dead leaves, working as an effective defense mechanism.

Average Wingspan: 2.2-2.4 inches.

Eggs

Comma Butterfly Eggs butterfly-conservation.org

The eggs are laid individually on the host plants. They are green and spherical at first, eventually turning yellow and ultimately grey before hatching.