Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)
The Comma (Polygonia c-album) is a species of butterfly that ranges across Europe and temperate Asia to Japan and south to Morocco. Similar species are found in the United States and Canada. The Comma has a white marking on its underwings resembling a comma. The wings have a distinctive ragged edge, apparently a cryptic form as the butterfly resembles a fallen leaf. The caterpillars are also cryptic, resembling a bird dropping. In the the larvae feed on hop, stinging nettle, elm, and blackcurrant; in other parts of its distribution (, in Sweden) it also feeds on sallow and birch. 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, whereas the form that develops directly to sexual maturation has lighter coloured wing undersides. 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.
Size: 4256px × 2831px
Location: Vassivere, Estonia
Photo credit: © Heiti Paves / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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