Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

The Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) is a distinctive and striking species of butterfly found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Its unique wing shape and coloration make it one of the more easily recognizable butterflies.

Key Characteristics:

1. Appearance:

• Wings:
  • The wings are deeply scalloped, resembling tattered leaves, which provide excellent camouflage.
  • The upper side of the wings is orange with black spots, giving it a striking, bright appearance when seen in flight.
  • The underside of the wings is mottled brown, resembling a dead leaf, and this camouflage helps the butterfly avoid predators when resting.
• Comma Mark: The butterfly gets its name from the small, white comma-shaped mark on the underside of its hind wings.
• Size: Wingspan ranges from 45 to 50 mm (1.8 to 2 inches).

1. Behavior:

• Flight Period: Comma butterflies are on the wing from early spring to late autumn, with two broods a year. The first brood emerges in spring and early summer, and the second in late summer and autumn.
• Hibernation: This species hibernates as an adult. The butterflies that emerge in the late summer go into hibernation during autumn and overwinter in leaf litter, tree hollows, or other sheltered spots. They emerge again in spring to breed.
• Territorial: Males are known to be territorial, often defending sunny patches in woodlands or hedgerows where they perch and patrol.

1. Habitat:

• The Comma butterfly can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, gardens, parks, hedgerows, and open countryside. They prefer areas with abundant vegetation and sunny, sheltered spots.
• The species is widely distributed across Europe, including the UK, and extends into temperate Asia. It is often seen basking in the sun on leaves or tree trunks.

1. Diet:

• Caterpillars: The larvae (caterpillars) feed on a range of host plants, including stinging nettles (Urtica dioica), elm (Ulmus), and hops (Humulus lupulus).
• Adults: The adult butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of flowers, including thistles, blackberries, and buddleia. They are also known to feed on rotting fruit and tree sap, especially in the autumn before hibernation.

1. Life Cycle:

• Eggs: Females lay eggs on the leaves of the host plants. The eggs are pale green and laid singly.
• Caterpillar: The caterpillars are dark with white and orange markings and spines along their bodies. They often resemble bird droppings, which helps to camouflage them from predators.
• Pupa: The pupae (chrysalides) are brown and angular, resembling a dried-up leaf or twig. This also helps camouflage them during the vulnerable pupal stage.
• Adult: The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis after around two weeks, depending on environmental conditions.

1. Conservation Status:

• The Comma butterfly is not considered to be at risk and has a stable population. In fact, in many areas, its numbers have been increasing, likely due to changes in land management and climate.

Conclusion:

The Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) is a visually striking species, well-known for its ragged wings and distinctive white comma mark. Its ability to blend in with its surroundings through its leaf-like appearance on the underside of its wings, combined with its bright orange and black upper wings, make it a fascinating insect to observe. With a broad range of habitats and an adaptable diet, the Comma butterfly is a resilient and widespread species across much of Europe and Asia.

Here’s an enhanced look into the Comma butterfly (Polygonia c‑album), inspired by the Macrostock photo and enriched with scientific context:

🔍 Identification & Camouflage

• Wingspan: 45–60 mm (about 5–6 cm) (karits.eu).
• Shape & coloration: Bright orange-brown upper wings with dark markings and highly scalloped edges. Underside is mottled brown-grey, mimicking a dead leaf—excellent camouflage when wings are closed (en.wikipedia.org).
• Name origin: The small white “comma” or “C”-shaped mark on each hindwing underside gives the species its common and scientific names (c‑album = “white C”) (karits.eu).

🍃 Distribution & Habitat

• Range: Widespread across Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, extending into Japan (en.wikipedia.org).
• Habitat preferences: Favors woodland edges, hedgerows, gardens, quarries, and sunny scrub areas with nettles and host plants present (learnbutterflies.com).

🐛 Life Cycle & Behavior

• Generations: Two broods per year—summer and autumn. The summer form (“hutchinsoni”) has paler undersides; autumn generation hibernates as adults and emerges in spring (learnbutterflies.com).
• Eggs & caterpillars: Eggs are laid singly on plants like stinging nettle, hops, elm, currant, and willow. Caterpillars resemble bird droppings in early stages and grow spines over time (woodlandtrust.org.uk).
• Chrysalis & hibernation: Pupae hang camouflaged among leaves and debris; adults hibernate in sheltered spaces like bark crevices or buildings, sometimes emerging on sunny winter days (wildlifeinsight.com).

🍯 Feeding & Adult Behavior

• Adult diet: Feeds on nectar from thistles, knapweed, summer flowers, and later on bramble berries, fallen fruit, and nectars from heat-loving plants (woodlandtrust.org.uk).
• Flight: Fast, slightly erratic flight that resembles fritillaries; typically active from early spring (March) to late autumn (November), with overwintered individuals sometimes seen (wildlifeinsight.com).

🧬 Ecology & Conservation

• Predator defense: Both caterpillars and adults use camouflage; caterpillars mimic bird droppings and adults resemble dead leaves, while pupae blend into surroundings (plantiary.com).
• Population trends: After severe decline in Britain in the 19th–early 20th centuries, it rebounded and has since expanded northward — now Least Concern status in the UK (butterfly-conservation.org).

📝 Summary

The Comma butterfly is a visually striking yet cryptic woodland species. Its ragged wing shape and leaf-like underwing make it nearly invisible at rest, while its two-generation cycle, diverse host plants, and overwintering adults reflect a robust life-history strategy. Having rebounded from past declines, it’s now thriving—and its expanding range serves as a barometer of climate-driven ecological shifts.

🎯 Want to know more?

• Insights into its genetic polyphenism between summer and winter morphs.
• Host-plant selection and its effects on mating success.
• How to spot and photograph hibernating individuals or early springarten.

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)

Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Orange gull (Cepora judith)

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Common copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Blue glassy tiger (Ideopsis similis)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Download full size image The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a charming butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, known for its striking appearance and widespread distribution across Europe and parts of Asia. Here's a detailed description: Physical Characteristics: The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is of medium size, with a wingspan typically ranging from 45 to 55 millimeters. It displays a distinctive pattern of bright orange wings bordered by a black band with white spots. The forewings also feature a row of blue crescents near the outer edge, while the hindwings have a series of blue spots and a border of black and yellow. The undersides of the wings are mottled brown, providing effective camouflage when the butterfly is at rest. Habitat and Distribution: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, grasslands, woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. They are distributed across much of Europe, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of Asia, such as Siberia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. They are particularly abundant in temperate regions with diverse plant species. Behavior and Life Cycle: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are diurnal and active during the warmer months of the year, especially in spring and summer. They are strong and agile flyers, often seen fluttering among flowers in search of nectar and mates. The females lay eggs singly on the leaves of stinging nettles (Urtica spp.), which serve as the primary larval host plant. The caterpillars hatch from the eggs and feed on the leaves of the host plants before pupating and emerging as adult butterflies. Conservation Status: The Small Tortoiseshell is not considered globally threatened and is generally common and widespread throughout its range. However, like many butterfly species, it may face localized threats due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation caused by agricultural intensification, urbanization, and climate change. Conservation efforts focused on preserving and restoring habitats, protecting larval host plants, and minimizing human disturbance are crucial for ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic butterfly species. Overall, the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful and ecologically important species, valued for its striking appearance, graceful flight, and role in pollination and ecosystem functioning. Its presence adds vibrancy and vitality to natural landscapes and serves as a symbol of the rich biodiversity of the regions where it is found.

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Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

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Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

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Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Chestnut heath (Coenonympha glycerion)

Lesser marbled fritillary (Brenthis ino)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

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Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

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