Overwintering as an Adult

While most butterflies overwinter as eggs or pupae, there are a few including this one, the Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) that overwinter as adults. They wedge themselves in crevices in trees, behind loose bark, or under loose shingles away from the worst of winter.

You’ll see them out on trails on warm sunny days during the winter and early spring. Certainly the first of the butterflies in the spring.

See that bright white mark on the ventral side of the wing, the mark that if you use your imagination might look like a comma? That is why this butterfly is called “comma.”

Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

2 thoughts on “Overwintering as an Adult”

  1. next grammar quiz, does the question mark over winter as well. I will look it up but hope you get the info out on the net in your usual informative and fun fashion.

  2. Dear Ken,

    Yes indeed the other puncuation mark butterfly does overwinter as an adult. Which one is imitating the other is hard to say but they certainly are a challenge to tell apart. I do plan to tackle that topic one of these days.

    Thanks bunches for reading my posts and sending me such fun comments. I really appreciate your attention.
    Bren

Comments are closed.