Species › Insects & Arthropods › Green Comma

Green Comma

Polygonia faunus

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)

The Green Comma is a northern comma butterfly with ragged, angular wing edges and a row of green-yellow submarginal spots on the hindwing underside that distinguish it from other commas. It overwinters as an adult in boreal forests. Adults emerge on warm late-winter days and perch on snowbanks to thermoregulate. Its camouflaged underside closely resembles bark.

Habitat
Boreal forests, woodland clearings, and mountain forests
Diet
Larvae: birch, willow, and alder. Adults: tree sap and rotting fruit
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Green Comma

The best time to see a Green Comma is May–August, when about 72% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,438 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Green Comma? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Green Comma sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Green Comma?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More insects & arthropods

Green Hairstreak
Green Hairstreak
Callophrys rubi
Green June Beetle
Green June Beetle
Cotinis nitida
Green Peach Aphid
Green Peach Aphid
Myzus persicae
Ground Crab Spider
Ground Crab Spider
Xysticus cristatus
Guinea Paper Wasp
Guinea Paper Wasp
Polistes exclamans
Gulf Fritillary
Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae
Hackberry Emperor
Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis
Harvester
Harvester
Feniseca tarquinius