Taxonomy
Polygonia c-album | Comma | Camóg
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Ireland: Not assessed, recent establishment (Regan et al., 2010)
Europe: Least Concern (van Swaay et al., 2010)
Climate risk category: Lower Climate Change Risk; present distribution in Europe can be explained by climate to a moderate extent (Settele et al., 2008)
Legal status
The Comma is not afforded legal protection in Ireland.
Native status
Resident, recently established.
Species Biology
Identification
Key identification features:
- Large size, wingspan: 50 - 64 mm
- Deep orange and brown mottled pattern
- Distinctive scalloped margin to wings
- White 'comma' at centre of under hindwing
Habitat
Generalist, found in: tall-herb and grassy forest clearings, crops, field margins, orchards, urban parks and ornamental gardens. The first confirmed report of the Comma in the Republic of Ireland was in 2000 in Co. Wexford (O'Donnell & Wilson, 2009). It is now consistently recorded each year throughout the south and east, and in 2014 it was confirmed to be overwintering in Co. Carlow (Harding & Power, in press). In Spring, overwintering adults emerge in wooded habitats and spend time basking, favourite surfaces being tree trunks, wood piles, dead bracken and fence posts. Males establish territories on sunny rides and woodland margins, perching waiting for females to enter the territory and conducting short flights to and from their original perch. During late summer and early autumn, the 2nd generation adults range widely over sites with nectar sources, but move to woodland to hibernate (Bond & Gittings, 2008).
Flight period
Bivoltine: in 1st generation is in flight from April to May, and the 2nd generation from July to August. Adults of this species can be observed throughout the year as migrants continue to arrive from Britain and continental Europe.
Life cycle
Eggs are laid singly, near the tip of the upper surface of a leaf growing at or close to the top of the foodplant. The larva feeds in May and early June, and again in late July and early August, at first on the lower surface of a leaf, but later switches to the upper surface. It pupates in May, and again in July, suspended from a dense silk pad on the foodplant, but more often in surrounding dense vegetation. Overwintering as a hibernating adult on tree-trunks and branches, where the ragged wing outline provides good concealment (Bond & Gittings, 2008; Harding & Power, in press).
Food plants
Specialist, the larvae primarily feed on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), but in Britain it has also been observed on: Currants (Ribes spp.), Elms (Ulmus spp.), Hop (Humulus lupulus) and Willows (Salix spp.).
Flowers visited
Generalist, adult nectar sources include: Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Buddleia (Buddleji davidii), Ivy (Hedera helix), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.).
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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References
Publications
Bond, K.G.M. and Gittings, T. 2008. Database of Irish Lepidoptera. 1 - Macrohabitats, microsites and traits of Noctuidae and butterflies. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 35. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.
Harding, J. and Power, B. In press. Addition of the Comma butterfly as a breeding Irish species. Irish Naturalists' Journal.
O'Donnell, M. and Wilson, C. 2009. The Lepidoptera of County Wexford. Wexford Naturalists' Field Club, Wexford.
Regan, E.C., Nelson, B., Aldwell, B., Bertrand, C., Bond, K., Harding, J., Nash, D., Nixon, D. and Wilson, C.J. 2010. Ireland Red List No. 4 – Butterflies. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland.
Settele, J., Kudrna, O., Harpke, A., Kühn, I., Van Swaay, C., Verovnik, R., Warren, M.S., Wiemers, M., Hanspach, J., Hickler, T. and Kühn, E. 2008. Climatic risk atlas of European butterflies. Sofia-Moscow: Pensoft.
Van Swaay, C., Cuttelod, A., Collins, S., Maes, D., López Munguira, M., Šašic, M., Settele, J., Verovnik, R., Verstrael, T., Warren, M., Wiemers, M. and Wynhof, I. 2010. European Red List of Butterflies. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.