Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)

In North Carolina, Green Commas have become rare and are found only in the mountains. However, they are widespread across northern and western North America.

	'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 13 Sep 2008 Above, Green Commas show a rich scarlet-orange near their bodies, which grades into a bright yellow-orange near the wingtips.
	'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 13 Sep 2008 Below, Green Commas are relatively dark with often difficult to see light aqua-greenish submarginal markings and even an aqua-green sheen over parts of the underwings. In "real life", the underwings look darker than they appear here in these flashed photographs.
	'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 13 Sep 2008 Same individual as above after it landed on Harry's shirt! (see below)

'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi)
Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC
13 Sep 2008

Harry LeGrand displays his personal Green Comma.

'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi)
Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC
13 Sep 2008

Many of the Green Commas we saw were nectaring on various composities like this White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima).

		Note greenish underwing markings are prominent on this individual.
'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 13 Sep 2008	'Smyth's' Green Comma (Polygonia faunus smythi) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 13 Sep 2008

Green comma (Polygonia faunus)
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Missoula Co., MT
4 May 2008

Some authorities treat this subspecies as Polygonia faunus cenverey, while others include it with P. faunus arcticus.


Green comma (Polygonia faunus) Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Missoula Co., MT 4 May 2008	Green comma (Polygonia faunus) Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Missoula Co., MT 4 May 2008


Green comma (Polygonia faunus faunus) Reserva Faunique Mastigouche, Quebec 5 Aug 2005	Green comma (Polygonia faunus faunus) Reserva Faunique Mastigouche, Quebec 5 Aug 2005

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Created on ... May 6, 2007 | Updated ... Apr 12, 2008 | jspippen@duke.edu