Polygonia c-album
| Comma | |
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| File:Polygonia c-album qtl2.jpg | |
| Dorsal view | |
| File:Nymphalidae - Polygonia c-album.JPG | |
| Ventral view. Hutchinsoni form showing light-coloured wing undersides | |
| Scientific classification | |
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P. c-album
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| Binomial name | |
| Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| Subspecies | |
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8 sspp, see text |
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| Synonyms | |
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Nymphalis c-album |
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The Comma (Polygonia c-album) is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. Its irregular wing edges are characteristic of the Polygonia genus, which is why they are commonly called anglewings. It is found in northern Africa and across Europe from Portugal through Asia as far as Japan. Its dorsal wings are colourful but its underside has a pattern that camouflages it when its wings are held together.
Contents
Description
Polygonia c-album has a wingspan of about 45 millimetres (1.8 in).[1] The underside of the wings of this butterfly are a dull brown colour, with a small white 'C' shaped marking resembling a comma (hence the common name).[1] The wings have a distinctive ragged edge, apparently a cryptic form as the butterfly resembles a fallen leaf.[2][3]
These butterflies hibernate, so they could be seen all around the year, but the active flying period extends from April to November, depending on location.[1] Adults feed on nectar, mainly of Thistles (Cirsium and Carduus spp.), but also on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Ivy (Hedera helix), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), and Privet (Ligustrum vulgare).[3]
Females lay up to 275 green eggs, which turn yellow and ultimately grey before hatching.[2] The caterpillars are also cryptic. They are black and white, resembling a bird dropping.[1] In the U.K the larvae feed on Hop (Humulus lupulus), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Elm (Ulmus species), and Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum); in other parts of its distribution it also feeds on Sallow (Salix species), Corylus avellana and Birch (Betula species).[2][3][4]
The species survives the winter in the adult stage, and adults are of two forms. The form that overwinters before reproducing has dark undersides of the wings, resembling a dead leaf, a perfect camouflage throughout the winter.[1] The majority of the offspring have this dark form.[2]
The form that develops directly to sexual maturity (hutchinsoni form) has lighter coloured wing undersides.[2] Both forms can arise from eggs laid by the same female, depending mainly on the photoperiods experienced by the larvae, but also with an influence of host plants, temperature, and sex of individuals.
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Polygonia c-album MHNT CUT 2013 3 19 Grisolles Male Dos.jpg
♂
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Polygonia c-album MHNT CUT 2013 3 19 Grisolles Male Ventre.jpg
♂ △
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Polygonia c-album MHNT CUT 2013 3 19 Verdun sur Garonne Female Dos.jpg
♀
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Polygonia c-album MHNT CUT 2013 3 19 Verdun sur Garonne Female Ventre.jpg
♀ △
Subspecies
- P. c. c-album Europe
- P. c. imperfecta (Blachier, 1908) North Africa
- P. c. extensa (Leech, [1892]) West China, Central China
- P. c. kultukensis Kleinschmidt, 1929 Transbaikalia
- P. c. hamigera (Butler, 1877) Ussuri (type locality Edo, Japan)
- P. c. koreana Bryk, 1946 Korea
- P. c. sachalinensis Matsumura, 1915 Sakhalin
- P. c. asakurai (Nakahara, 1920) Taiwan
- P. c. agnicula (Moore, 1872) Nepal [4]
Distribution
Polygonia c-album ranges across Europe and temperate Asia to Japan and south to Morocco. Similar species are found in the United States and Canada.[1][2][3]
Habitat
This species prefers open woodland, wood edges, country lanes and gardens.[1][2][3]
History
In the 19th century, the British population of the Comma crashed,[1][3] possibly as a result of reduced Hop farming. From about 1930 the population recovered and the Comma is now one of the more familiar butterflies in Southern England, and is also resident in Scotland and in North Wales.[2]
Gallery
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Polygonia c-album eggs.jpg
Ovum
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Polygonia c-album egg 2.jpg
Ovum close-up
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Polygonia c-album 001.JPG
Larva
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Comma pupa on 'Patriot' 001.jpg
Pupa
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Polygonia c-album LC0390.jpg
Adult
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Comma (Polygonia c-album) underside.jpg
Underside
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Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) close up.JPG
Head
References
Further reading
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External links
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Wikispecies has information related to: Polygonia c-album |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. |
- Polygonia c-album at Fauna Europaea
