UK Butterflies
Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland
Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland
Wingspan
50 - 64 mm
Checklist Number
59.031
Looking like a tatty Small Tortoiseshell, the Comma is now a familiar sight throughout most of England and Wales and is one of the few species that is bucking the trend by considerably expanding its range. The butterfly gets its name from the only white marking on its underside, which resembles a comma. When resting with wings closed this butterfly has excellent camouflage, the jagged outline of the wings giving the appearance of a withered leaf, making the butterfly inconspicuous when resting on a tree trunk or when hibernating.
This butterfly was once widespread over most of England and Wales, and parts of southern Scotland, but by the middle of the 1800s had suffered a severe decline that left it confined to the Welsh border counties, especially West Gloucestershire, East Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. It is thought that the decline may have been due to a reduction in Hop farming, a key larval foodplant at the time. Since the 1960s this butterfly has made a spectacular comeback, with a preference for Common Nettle as the larval foodplant, and it is now found throughout England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and has recently reached Scotland. There have also been a few records from Ireland.
This species was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden).
The nominate form is found throughout its range.
This form was first defined in Robson (1881).
This form is found throughout its range and represents individuals that go on to produce a second brood, which differ from those individuals that overwinter as follows:
The specimens emerging in early Summer are much paler in hue that those appearing later: the ground colour is about the same as the palest portion of the darker specimens, and all the other markings are paler in proportion. On the underside the differences are even more noticeable, the early form being pale yellow-brown, with rather darker markings towards the base, and a few green spots and marks near the hind margins of both wings.
The Summer form is so different, and so constant in its appearance, that it ought to have a distinctive name, and we suggest it be called var. Hutchinsoni, in compliment to that lady whose liberality has enriched so many cabinets with specimens; whose knowledge of the species, as has already been said, is not exceeded by that of any one living, and to whom we are greatly indebted for information mentioned above.
| Family: | Nymphalidae | Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Subfamily: | Nymphalinae | Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Tribe: | Nymphalini | Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genus: | Polygonia | Hübner, [1819] |
| Subgenus: | ||
| Species: | c-album | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Subspecies: | c-album | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Form: | c-album | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| hutchinsoni | Robson, 1881 |
Description to be completed.
The distribution data (2000-2009) has been made available through the generosity of Butterfly Conservation and any subspecies distribution is taken from Riley (2007). Click here to see the distribution of this species together with site information overlaid.
The Comma is one of the few species that is thriving which is believed to be linked to global warming. Its range has been continually expanding and it has recently reached Scotland where it hasn't been seen since around 1870. As such, this is not a species of conservation concern.
The table below shows the occurrence (distribution) and abundance (population) trends, using information from The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015 (Fox, 2015). Any UK BAP status is taken from the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
1976-2014 (%) | 1976-2014 (%) | 2005-2014 (%) | 2005-2014 (%) |  +57 | +150 |  +11 |  -28 |
|---|
The butterfly can be seen at any time of the year, occasionally awakening on warm winter days. The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appears at the end of June and start of July. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides, and are known as the form hutchinsoni. This form is named after Emma Hutchinson who discovered that this form goes on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another emergence of fresh adults in late summer.
The trigger for the development of this form is the changing day length as the larva develops. If day length is increasing (before midsummer's day) as the larva develops, then the majority of adults will be the hutchinsoni form that go on to produce another generation, whereas if day length is decreasing, then the majority of adults will be the regular dark form that enter hibernation. The assumption, therefore, is that a good spring will allow for an earlier emergence and more-rapid larval development, resulting in a high proportion of hutchinsoni adults which can then comfortably fit in another brood.
After emerging from hibernation, both sexes search out nectar sources, such as Sallow flowers or Blackthorn blossom. They also spend a good amount of time basking, favourite surfaces being tree trunks, wood piles, dead bracken and fence posts.
The male butterfly sets up a territory, often on the sunny side of a woodland margin or at the junction of two woodland rides. Here he will sit on a favourite perch awaiting a passing female and will fly up to investigate any passing insect. The male will also make short flights - always returning to the same perch. Even when disturbed, the male will fly off for several metres or so before predictably returning to exactly the same leaf. When egg-laying the female makes short fluttering flights over the foodplant, stopping every few feet, landing on the foodplant and, if suitable, laying a single green egg.
Those adults that hibernate take a good deal of nectar, building up essential fat reserves that will see them through the winter. They are often seen feeding from garden flowers or fruit, such as blackberries or fallen plums. They eventually search out woodland where they find a suitable location in which to hibernate such as a tree trunk, branch, hollow tree or log pile.
Adults feed primarily on brambles (Rubus spp.), Buddleja (Buddleja spp.), Ivy (Hedera spp.), knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Rotting fruit (N/A), thistles (Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp.) and Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare).
Eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, toward the edge of a leaf upperside, each female laying up to 275 eggs. They are normally laid on plants at the margins of woods, in woodland glades and rides or next to a hedgerow. Eggs are green when first laid but eventually turn yellow and ultimately grey just before hatching. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks, depending on temperature.
"The ova are laid singly, and principally on the upper surface of the leaf. The ovum measures in height 0.8 mm. and is of an elongate spheroid form, smallest at the crown; there are either ten or eleven (eleven the most frequent) glassy-white longitudinal keels, which run from the crown to the base; they all commence at the edge of the micropyle, leaving the central portion of the summit bare; they are highest at the commencement, decreasing in height as they descend, and form fine ribs after traversing the upper half, and finally disappear on reaching the base; they have the appearance of fluted glass and are of a glistening whiteness; the spaces between the keels are slightly concave and very slightly ribbed transversely, only showing on that portion of the egg which is in high light. The colour is a clear green with whitish granulations, giving the appearance of a fine cellular pattern, which appears somewhat under the surface, and only visible on the shaded portion of the shell; the base is rounded and smooth; the micropyle is granular and slightly convex. The colour begins to change about four days before hatching, gradually turning more opaque and somewhat yellower, and showing a darkish blotch about the middle, which slowly grows more distinct, and then the dark head of the larva appears visible under the surface of the crown. The egg then deepens into a dark grey-green, and finally the crown becomes black. The young larva makes its exit by eating away the micropyle until the aperture is sufficiently large to allow its head to protrude, when it crawls very slowly out of the shell and at once creeps to the under surface of the leaf, and thereon spins a slight web and commences feeding. On May 4th, larva began to hatch out of the eggs first deposited, the egg state lasting about seventeen days." - Frohawk (1924)
On emerging, the young larva moves to the underside of a leaf where it feeds. As it matures it feeds on the upperside of the leaf and is quite unmistakable, resembling a bird dropping. This stage lasts around 5 weeks, depending on temperature. Some authors state that larvae of the first brood have 5 instars while those of the second brood have 4 instars. However, Henwood (1997) shows that this is not so, with both broods going through 5 instars.
The primary larval foodplant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). currants (Ribes spp.), elms (Ulmus spp.), Hop (Humulus lupulus) and willows (Salix spp.) are also used.
"Directly after emergence the little larva measures 2.12 mm. long. The body, legs and claspers are of a pale ochreous, tinged with green, especially on the anterior segments; the fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and eleventh segments are rather darker than the rest of the body, these five segments being of a rusty-brown hue, giving the larva a somewhat banded appearance. Each segment consists of large swollen prominences, those on the dorsal surface being very large and elevated; those on the lateral region are more compressed; those of the dorsal pair on each segment are the largest, and from the apex of each rises a long, gently curved hair which tapers off into a very fine point. Those of the sub-dorsal pair are conical in form and united at their bases, and one placed slightly above the other, the lower one being directly above the spiracle; both these terminate by a long hair, the upper one curving forwards and the lower one curving backwards. Immediately below the spiracle is a double globular wart, the anterior portion bearing two hairs, one curving slightly forwards and downwards, the other directed backwards and downwards; the posterior half bears one hair which curves upwards and backwards. All the hairs are simple, finely pointed, and have bulbous bases, excepting the dorsal ones. All are black with light tips. The claspers are very ample, and have two delicate, whitish, finely pointed spines, both directed downwards; the foot is black. The greater part of the surface of the larva has a granular effect, especially on the under surface, where it is clothed with extremely minute blackish points. The head is shining black and beset with hairs. The spiracles are black. When nine days old, and before the first moult, it measures 3.2 mm. in length. The ground colour is clear brown, inclining to ochreous, palest on the under surface, and checkered with dark brown and white, and studded with black warts, each emitting a long hair as described above, but now all the hairs are stiffened and appear as fine bristles. The dorsal half of the second, third, fifth, seventh and ninth segments are white, also the greater part of the anal segment; the remaining segments are brown dorsally (appearing dark brown from the presence of black warts on the sienna-brown ground colour), which forms a strong contrast with the white. The entire surface is particularly glossy, and the white resembles marble. The head, legs and claspers remain unchanged. The larva generally rests in nearly a straight position, but sometimes a good deal curved, in the form of a fish-hook, but more often only slightly curved. It lives entirely upon the under surface of the leaf, and spins a fine layer of silk between the ribs, upon which it rests. After each meal it turns round and, retracing its steps, rests in the same place as before, and with its head furthermost from the part eaten. It feeds upon the spines, smaller ribs and whole substance of the leaf, excepting the largest midribs, making large perforations in the leaf. During the act of defecation the larva elevates the posterior end, and curving the anterior part of its body round, it takes the excrement in its mouth and jerks it away; if not successful in its first attempt to jerk it aside, it brushes it from its mouth with the long, stiff, dorsal hairs on the hinder segments. Directly after emergence from the egg, the larva upon being touched exudes a bead of greenish-black fluid from its mouth, and remains immediately afterwards perfectly still, as if paralysed, but only for about fifteen or twenty seconds. Since the hatching of the eggs the weather remained dull and cold, the average day temperature being only about 52 degrees, therefore the growth of the larva during the first stage was undoubtedly considerably retarded." - Frohawk (1924)
"The first moult occurred on May 14th, when a large number moulted. Before second moult the larva, when fourteen days old, is 5.4 mm. long, and rather stout in proportion; the ground colour is pale drab, shading into ivory-white on the lateral and under surface, checkered with brownish-black; there are seven longitudinal rows of spines, placed medio-dorsal, sub-dorsal, super-spiracular and sub-spiracular; each spine terminates in a rather long, finely pointed bristle, and bearing other shorter and very fine bristles; all the spines are black, excepting those on the fifth, seventh and ninth segments of the medio and sub-dorsal rows, which are white, the white spreading over the dorsal surface of those segments and very conspicuous. The bases of the dorsal spines on the second and third segments, as well as the greater portion of the first and last segments, are of the same ivory-white colour. There are no spines on the first segment. The head is shining black, with two short, blunt tubercles on the crown, one on each lobe, and emits a number of black bristles. The surface of the head is scattered with numerous black hairs. The legs are black and white, the claspers whitish with black extremities. They rest in the same attitude as in the previous stage, and always upon the under surface of the leaf." - Frohawk (1924)
"The second moult was on May 21st. After the second moult, twenty-six days old, it measures 11 mm. long; the body is cylindrical and of uniform thickness throughout. The ground colour is of a dark olive-brown, reticulated with white along the dorsal and sub-spiracular regions; the dorsal pair of spines on the second and third segments are amber-yellow; those on the fourth segment (where the medio-dorsal series commences) are all black; the three dorsal spines of the fifth segment are paler yellow, and creamy-white on the seventh, ninth and twelfth; all are black on the sixth, eighth, tenth and eleventh segments; all the spines are furnished with very finely pointed black spinelets; the creamy-white surrounding the bases of the white and pale amber spines forms large and conspicuous markings. All other details are similar to the previous stage, and their habits are the same." - Frohawk (1924)
"The third moult occurred on June 21st. Shortly before the fourth moult, and thirty-four days old, it measures, while extended, 16 mm.; the ground colour is black, the sixth to tenth segments inclusive have the dorsal surface encircling the medio and sub-dorsal spines of a milky-white colour; the eleventh segment has the anterior half white. All the dorsal spines of the second, third, fourth and fifth segments are amber yellow; all the super-spiracular spines are black, and are situated on amber-yellow crescentic markings; those of the sub-spiracular series are greyish and placed on a creamy-white streak; a curved amber-yellow streak passes directly below the spiracles, which are outlined with whitish; the body is encircled by two white lines at the segmental divisions, but those on the anterior part are pale yellow." - Frohawk (1924)
"The fourth and last moult took place on June 8th. After the fourth moult, fully grown, forty-five days old, it measures from 31.8 mm. to 35 mm. in length, when extended while crawling. The body is almost uniform in thickness, the first and last segments only being the smallest. Each segment is much swollen round the middle, so that the larva has the appearance of being tightly girdled at the juncture of each segment There are seven longitudinal rows of spines from the fourth to eleventh segments inclusive, which are situated in the following order, each having a medio-dorsal, sub-dorsal, super-spiracular and sub-spiracular spine, the medio-dorsal spine being a little in advance of the rest. The second, third and twelfth segments have each four spines; all those on the second, third, fourth and fifth are amber-yellow, excepting the sub-spiracular, which are white; all the other spines on the body are white, excepting the super-spiracular series, which are tinged with ochreous; all the spines are branched, each branch or spinelet is tipped with amber, and each spine also emits a number of very fine white hairs. The first segment is without spines, but has a transverse series of short and slender orange tubercles, each terminated with a fine pale hair curving forwards. The head in front is flattened and square, the lobes of the crown are swollen, and each surmounted by a short, club-like knob directed forwards and outwards. Upon the clubbed apex are five or six minute orange spines, each bearing a long, fine, amber-coloured hair; other similar spines are dotted over the face. The ground colour of the head is dull black; the clypeus is outlined with pale ochreous, and a short orange streak in front on each lobe of the crown. The ground colour of the body is black, reticulated with lilac-grey; the anterior half of the body is transversely ringed with amber-yellow at the segmental divisions; and those on the posterior half are white dorsally and yellow laterally; the greater part of the dorsal surface of the second, third, fourth and fifth segments is amber-yellow; the sixth to tenth segments inclusive have almost the whole of the dorsal surface white, with a short, oblique black mark in front of each sub-dorsal spine, also a smaller black spot in front of the medio-dorsal spines and a fainter one behind. The white surrounds the sub-dorsal spines and is bordered below by velvety black, then by a rich deep orange, wavy, longitudinal super-spiracular band and a similar but paler orange sub-spiracular band, both being united by an oblique narrow streak of deep orange passing immediately behind the spiracles; on these bands are placed the spines; a short straw-yellow streak occurs anterior to, and just above, the claspers; at the base of each clasper is a row of four or five small orange warts, each bearing a fine white hair. The body has several minute warts sprinkled over the surface, each emitting a delicate white hair. The legs are shining black, the claspers grey at the base, shining black on the middle, with pale ochreous extremities. When about to suspend itself for pupation, the white on the dorsal surface changed to a greyish hue. The larvae are gregarious, living generally in small companies, but sometimes many will crowd upon a certain leaf; their habits are similar in all stages, the usual resting attitude resembling the form of a fish-hook. A larva suspended itself for pupation on June 20th, and pupated the following day, the larval state lasting forty-seven days." - Frohawk (1924)
The pupa is suspended head down, attached by the cremaster, to either the foodplant, surrounding vegetation or some other suitable platform. The pupa is quite beautiful and the green and brown colouring augmented with a small number of subtle silver spots, together with a jagged outline, give a superb impression of a withered leaf. This stage lasts around 2 weeks.
"The pupa averages in length 21.2 mm. Dorsal view: The head is square; the palpi cases are widely separated, sharply pointed, curving inwards, and are very jaw-like in form; the thorax is bi-angular at the base of the wing. The body is much nipped in round the middle, giving a deep concavity to the wing, which is acutely angulated on the hind margin. The abdomen is attenuated, and the anal point elongated. Lateral view: The head is beaked in front; the thorax much swollen, with a central, deep, rounded keel, and is deeply sunken at the juncture of the abdomen. The dorsal line of the abdomen is curved, the posterior segment is truncated, and the anal point (cremaster) is flattened and elongated, measuring 2.12 mm. The outline of the lateral surface, from near the apex of the antenna to the head, is almost straight, the antenna incurving at the apex. The abdomen has a medio-dorsal series of very small ochreous-yellow points, one on each segment, and smaller black points forming super and sub-spiracular rows; the sub-dorsal series consists of larger points, especially on the fourth segment, which are the largest, conical and sharply pointed; those on the first, second and third segments are of brilliant metallic appearance, resembling highly burnished silver, with opaline iridescence. Those of the first pair are the largest and most compressed. A streak of brilliant coppery gold ornaments the anterior portion of the third and fourth segments, running from the edge of the segment to the silver point. The ground colour of normal specimens is a pinkish-buff, very delicately reticulated with black; two broad, oblique, dark olive-green bands cross the wing, one at the apex, the other across the middle; three bands of similar colour extend down the abdomen, one on each side, enclosing the black spiracles; the other is central along the under surface. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is blotched with olive, and has a medio-dorsal line of pale pink. The thorax is streaked with deep pink; the palpi are black. On the hind legs is an olive streak shading into black, and terminating in a black point at the end of the tibia. There is also a smaller black point on the fore leg. The cremaster is buff, streaked longitudinally with black, and is amply provided with shining brown hooks at the extremity. The outline of the hind margin of the wing-case is most dissimilar and disconnected with that of the true wing, which has the deep angular margin clearly defined in the pupa, which in the former is a simple curve. Some specimens are more uniform in colour, having the markings much less defined, especially on the wing, and are generally somewhat metallic, as if lightly washed over with gold bronze, and in some the ground colour is a deep pink. The pupa is suspended by the anal hooks to a small dense silken pad spun by the larva, generally upon the under side of the stalk or the midrib of the leaf, and also upon the stems of the plant. It remains in the pupal state from ten to fifteen days, but the time is entirely regulated by temperature. The imago emerged (from the pupa described) on July 2nd, remaining eleven days in the pupa. The descriptions are all taken from the same individual, from directly after the hatching of the egg to the emergence of the imago." - Frohawk (1924)
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
