The Eastern Comma is a distinctively shaped butterfly, named for the small silver comma-shaped mark on the underside of its hindwings. With its wings closed, it blends effortlessly into dead leaves and tree bark, offering excellent camouflage. But when the wings open, they reveal a striking pattern of bright orange and black, often with dark spots and jagged edges that resemble a tattered leaf. This dramatic contrast makes the Eastern Comma a fascinating sight for butterfly watchers.

 

“Eastern Comma Butterfly” by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Eastern Comma Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Nymphalinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/4 – 2 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Deciduous woodlands; woods near rivers, marshes, swamps, and other water sources

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• American Elm (Ulmus americana)

• False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)

• Hops (Humulus lupulus)

• Nettles (Urtica spp.)

• Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)

 

🌸 Feeding behavior

Adult Eastern Comma butterflies primarily feed on:

• Dung

• Moisture from damp soil and leaf litter

• Rotting fruit

• Sap flows

Their preference for sap, rotting fruit, and dung is due to their shaded woodland habitats, where flowers are less abundant.

 

They occasionally nectar at flowers, especially when other food sources are scarce:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)