#2392 · 🦋 butterflies & moths

European Comma

🇳🇱 Gehakkelde Aurelia ·Polygonia c-album

🦋 Butterflies & moths 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

Polygonia c-album ( comma ) is a polyphagous butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. The angular notches on the edges of the forewings are characteristic of the Polygonia genus, which is why species in the genus are commonly referred to as anglewing butterflies. Comma butterflies can be identified by their prominent orange and dark brown/black dorsal wings. To prevent predation, both the larval and adult stages exhibit protective camouflage as bird droppings and fallen leaves, respectively. During...

base stats

NL sightings 1,970iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 85,948iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 1,970 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #8 most seen of the butterflies & moths in NL.
85,948 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).