North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Polygonia faunus is resident in across northern Canada, the northeastern United States from Alaska to central California, and along the Appalachian mountains in the eastern US. There are several separate populations in the central US. (Scott 1986). Habitats are Canadian to Hudsonian zone areas, mostly along streams. Host plants are shrubs or trees and include species from several families including Salicaceae, Betulaceae, Ericaceae, and Grossulariaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as adults. There are variable numbers of flights each year depending on latitude with populations in the northern part of the range having one flight in late July; in the more southern part of the range there are two flights occurring June 15- July 15 and late Aug. in California, and late June ? Aug 15 and Sept. in Virginia (Scott 1986).
Behavior
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Adults feed on flower nectar, mud, carrion and dung. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).
Conservation Status
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Not of concern.
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Cyclicity
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One brood per year, appearing in early spring (April to May) and again in August to October.
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Distribution
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The Green Comma is found from Alaska east across the boreal region to Newfoundland and New England, in the west south to California and New Mexico (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999).
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General Description
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The predominantly grey underside is most like that of P. progne, P. oreas and P. gracilis; the Green Comma has a more mottled rather than a two-toned underside, and the moss-green patches in the margins of the underside will serve to distinguish it. There is some variability over this species' distribution in the province, and it is unclear at the time which subspecies names are best applied (N. Kondla, unpubl. data).
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Habitat
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Boreal forest clearings and roadways, occasionally occurring in the aspen parkland.
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Life Cycle
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The green eggs are sculpted with 10 - 12 vertical ribs, and are laid in the spring after females overwinter and mate. The mature larvae are spiny with black, bilobed heads, the front half of the body coloured rust-brown and the rear pure white (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Pupae are brown or grey with silvered tubercles (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Adults hibernate in wood piles, unheated buildings and hollow trees and stumps (Guppy & Shepard 2001).
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Trophic Strategy
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In BC, the larvae feed on willows (Salix spp.), alder (Alnus spp.) and paper birch (Betula payrifera) (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Adults rarely visit flowers, preferring instead the sap of poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) (Guppy & Shepard 2001), particularly in the spring when sap flows are high and contain lots of sugars. Carrion and mammal scat will also attract commas.
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Polygonia faunus
provided by wikipedia EN
Polygonia faunus, the green comma, Faunus comma, or Faunus anglewing is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
Subspecies
Subspecies include:[3]
-
Polygonia faunus smythi [4]
- Polygonia faunus faunus
-
Polygonia faunus articus [5]
-
Polygonia faunus rusticus (brown - west),[6]
-
Polygonia faunus hylas (gray - Rockies) [7]
Some authors split Polygonia faunus into the above-mentioned subspecies, on the basis of differences in the color of the underside and their distribution. However most authors consider them as regional variants.[8]
Distribution and habitat
This species can be found in the boreal North America, from central Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico. It is also present across the Great Lakes area to New England, the Maritimes and in the southern Appalachians. The green comma mainly occurs in forests, mountain woodlands, near streams and in canyons.[9]
Description
The wingspan of Polygonia faunus can reach about 45–64 mm. These usually uncommon butterflies show extremely ragged wing edges. They are geographically rather variable. The upperside of their wings is reddish brown with wide dark borders. The hindwing border contains a row of yellow spots. The underside of the wings is grey-brown, but the outer half is lighter, with greenish lichen-simulating submarginal spots in the males. Moreover, the hindwings have a L or a C-shaped silver spot in middle.[9] In the females the wings are more uniform, dull gray below.[10]
Similar species
This species is most similar to the eastern comma (P. comma), but it can usually be distinguished by the irregular wing margins and the submarginal row of green spots on the underside. It is also strongly associated with the comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) within the genus based on larval development analysis and synaptomorphies.[11]
However the North American populations of Polygonia species can be distinguished from those of Polygonia c-album in the fact that they occur only in cooler regions, with only one brood and without seasonal dimorphism, while the latter species occurs in some milder regions, with more generations and distinct seasonal forms.[8]
Biology
Females lay eggs on the upper surface of the leaves of the host plants. The solitary larvae feed on a wide range of hosts, especially on upland willow (Salix humilis), Betula lenta, alder, Rhododendron occidentale, and Ribes species.[9] Other recorded plants are Nettles (Urtica species), Hops (Humulus species), Elm (Ulmus species) and Azalea (Rhododendron species).[8] These butterflies have one generation per year (univoltines) and fly from May to September depending on the location. Adults overwinter until the following Spring.[9]
Gallery
Male, ventral side - MHNT
References
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Polygonia faunus: Brief Summary
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Polygonia faunus, the green comma, Faunus comma, or Faunus anglewing is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
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