Comma Butterfly | Polygonia c-album PUPAE

Polygonia c-album, commonly known as the Comma butterfly, is a smallish butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, thriving in woodland edges, gardens, hedgerows, and other sunny, sheltered habitats.

The Comma butterfly is easily recognized by its uniquely scalloped wing edges, which resemble torn leaves, providing excellent camouflage. The upperside of the wings is bright orange with black spots, while the underside is mottled brown with a distinctive white, comma-shaped marking on each hindwing, giving the butterfly its common name. This camouflage helps the butterfly blend into its surroundings, especially during hibernation.

The Comma butterfly is a strong flier, often seen basking in the sun with its wings spread open. It feeds on nectar from flowers, ripe fruits, and tree sap. In cooler months, it enters hibernation as an adult butterfly, emerging in spring to begin the breeding cycle.

This species has shown remarkable adaptability, with its range expanding northward in response to climate change. It also has a variable number of generations per year, depending on the local climate.

Difficulty - Very easy (1/10)

Host plants - Nettles; Willow; Hops

Temperature - Room temp. or outside

Lifecycle - 2-3 broods annually with adult butterflies overwintering.