The Eastern Comma or Hop Merchant

Polygonia comma (Harris, 1842)

Color:

A single dark postmedian spot near the bottom edge of the upper forewing; a dark border on the upper hindwing enclosing pale spots; the hindwing is promarily black in summer forms and orange with black spots in winter forms (Opler and Malikul, 1992).

Size:

The Hop Merchant is 2 - 2 7/16 inches in width (Opler and Malikul, 1992).

Food:

The caterpillar of the Eastern Comma feeds on nettles, elm and hops (Opler and Malikul, 1992).

Geographic Range:

The butterfly is found in most of the eastern U.S.A. (Opler and Malikul, 1992).

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