Colley Hill, Reigate, Surrey. Tuesday 2nd May 2017. A Comma Butterfly "Polygonia c-album" makes the most of the warm weather, resting on a leaf on the slopes of Colley Hill, Reigate, Surrey. Photo by ©Lindsay Constable / Alamy Live News
Description: Eggs are laid singly on the uppermost leaves and the caterpillars usually hatch after about 15 days. The favoured food plant in the past was Hops but a decline in village breweries has caused a move towards nettle (usually growing in shaded positions) as the favoured food plant although Elm is often used as well. The larvae of the Comma are particularly attractive at close quarters although from a distance resemble a bird dropping. Pupation almost always takes place on the food plant. Butterflies of the summer brood appearing around May/June are deep orange and are known as form hutchinsoni. Later broods and those overwintering as Adults are more usually deeper brown above while their underwing is either a beautiful mix of blues greys and browns or the more usual orange/brown. Habitat: The Comma is presently a relatively common butterfly but up until the 1940's the Comma was only regularly seen on the Welsh borders. Distribution: The Comma is a relatively common species in England an Wales becoming less common further north towards the edge of its range around northern England. It appears to be extending northwards probably as a result of global warming in recent years. The adult butterflies from the summer brood hibernate during the winter and it is these individuals which you will see on the wing in early spring (March/April) the following year. It is a strong flyer and can travel long distances so may turn up anywhere where suitable nectar plants occur. INFO SOURCE:
Size: 2585px × 2585px
Location: Colley Hill, Reigate, Surrey
Photo credit: © Lindsay Constable / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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