European Comma
Polygonia c-album
Insecta
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- Up to 1 yr
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Temperate woodland
- Range
- Eurasia
- Movement
- Flight
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Camouflage
- Status
- Common
About
The European Comma is a medium-sized nymphalid butterfly instantly recognised by its deeply scalloped, ragged wing edges — an adaptation that mimics a torn dead leaf when resting. On the underside of the hindwing sits a tiny white C-shaped mark (the comma) that inspired its name.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA tiny ribbed egg laid on the underside of a host-plant leaf, hatching within days.
- 2.caterpillarA voracious caterpillar feeds and molts through several instars, growing rapidly.
- 3.chrysalisA chrysalis hangs sealed and still while the body remodels into a winged adult.
- 4.butterflyA winged adult with full scales and coloration, ready to fly and mate.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Genus
- Polygonia
- Species
- Polygonia c-album