Is a comma a moth or a butterfly?

The comma is a medium-sized orange-and-brown butterfly. It gets its name from the comma-shaped white spots on the underneath of its wings. It is on the wing throughout the year, having several broods and overwintering as an adult.

Is a comma butterfly rare?

The comma is a common and widespread butterfly of woodland edges, particularly during the spring and autumn. The caterpillars feed on common nettles, elms and willows.

What does a Comma butterfly mean?

Definition of comma butterfly

: a common North American anglewing butterfly (Polygonia comma) having a silvery comma-shaped mark on the underside of the hind wings and larvae that feed on elm, nettles, and hop sometimes : any of several other butterflies of the genus Polygonia.

Are comma butterflies endangered?

Not extinctComma / Extinction status

Are comma caterpillars poisonous?

The comma caterpillar is commonly found on the meadowsweet plant, from where its food source can be obtained by chewing the leaves. This species is not usually harmful to man.

What plants do comma butterflies like?

The most widely used foodplant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Other species used include Hop (Humulus lupulus), elms (Ulmus spp.), currants (Ribes spp.), and Willows (Salix spp).

Where do comma butterflies live?

The comma is now found in woodland clearings and gardens throughout England and Wales and has even edged into Scotland.

Where is the comma butterfly from?

Introduction. 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.

What flowers do comma butterflies like?

Adults: feed on nectar of wild flowers such as thistle and knapweed. They can also be seen feeding on ripe blackberry and fallen fruit such as plums in autumn.

Is it OK to touch caterpillars?

Most caterpillars are perfectly safe to handle. Painted lady and swallowtail caterpillars are common examples. Even the monarch butterfly caterpillar, though toxic if eaten, does nothing more than tickle you when held.

Is it OK to touch monarch caterpillars?

It is safe for humans to hold and touch the Monarch caterpillar but it is not always safe for the caterpillar. When they are young/small they are quite delicate but as they grow it becomes safer for them to be handled. The one time that no caterpillar should be handled is when they are preparing to molt.

How long does a Comma butterfly live?

Comma butterfly lifespan
The lifespan of comma butterflies varies. The light hutchinsoni variant has a short lifespan of just a few months, while the dark late summer form can go on to hibernate until the following March, making their lifespan about 8 months.

What do comma butterflies lay their eggs on?

The fertilised female lays her eggs on the leaves of stinging nettles and other larval food plants. The eggs hatch after around five days and the caterpillars will feed on the leaves before undergoing pupation.

Are comma butterflies territorial?

The male butterflies are territorial and can be seen sunning themselves on the same patch of ground or vantage point to look out for intruders on their patch. The comma is orange with dark brown markings on its wings but its most distinctive characteristic is the ragged leaf-like edge to its wings.

What butterfly is orange with black spots?

Uncommon at the BFS. Gulf Fritillary: Upperside: bright orange with black markings around the border and three black-rimmed white spots on each forewing. Underside: brown with longated silvery spots.

How many years do butterflies live?

Painted lady: 15 – 29 daysButterflies / Lifespan

Do caterpillars carry diseases to humans?

Many people enjoy bringing caterpillars from their gardens indoors to pupate and emerge as adult butterflies. But occasionally, these caterpillars harbor infectious parasites including bacteria, viruses or protozoa.

Why caterpillars should not be collected bare hands?

Caterpillars have small hairs on their skin which can cause sting or irritation when touched with bare hands. Some caterpillars release fluids which can be poisonous.

Do monarch butterflies bite?

Monarchs smell with their antennae. Nectar and water are tasted by the sensory hairs on their legs and feet. Monarch butterflies cannot bite, and drink through a long tongue called a proboscis that works like an eyedropper drawing up nectar.

What’s the most poisonous caterpillar?

Lonomia obliqua
The caterpillar has been responsible for many human deaths, especially in southern Brazil. Its venom has been the subject of numerous medical studies. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. Guinness World Records classified the Lonomia obliqua as the most venomous caterpillar in the world.

Are pink butterflies real?

Can Butterflies Be Pink? What is this? Many experts say that there are no butterflies that are really pink in color, though some species may appear pink due to iridescence. Pink is not a color that exists in nature, it is not a wavelength or particle, and does not appear in the visible spectrum.

What does it mean when an orange butterfly lands on you?

The appearance of orange butterflies is highly prized in many civilizations around the world. What is this? A dream in which you see orange coloured butterflies mean that you are more creative and happy. The butterfly will bring you extra positive energy if it lands on you.

Do butterflies sleep?

Do butterflies sleep? At night, or when the day is cloudy, adult butterflies rest by hanging upside down from leaves or twigs, where they are hidden among the foliage.

What animal lives the shortest?

#1: Mayfly — The Shortest Lifespan of Any Known Animal
These insects are the shortest living animals on the planet, as the adult lifespan of a fly from this species is only 24 hours.

What happens if you touch a caterpillar?

The Bottom Line. Many caterpillars have hairs or spines which are connected to poisonous glands. In contact with human skin, they can cause pain, itching, burning, swelling, and blistering.