Polygonia oreas
Encyclopedia
The Oreas Comma is a butterfly
of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in North America
in the mountains from southern British Columbia
and southwestern Alberta
to northern California
.
The wingspan
is 42–52 mm. The butterfly flies from June to October depending on the location.
The larvae feed on Ribes
species.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the mountains from southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and southwestern Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 42–52 mm. The butterfly flies from June to October depending on the location.
The larvae feed on Ribes
Ribes
Ribes is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants native throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is usually treated as the only genus in the family Grossulariaceae. Seven subgenera are recognized....
species.
Similar species
- Green Comma (P. faunusPolygonia faunusThe Green Comma is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in North America.The wingspan is 45–64 mm. The butterfly flies from May to September depending on the location....
) - Grey Comma (P. prognePolygonia progneThe Gray Comma or Grey Comma is a species of Polygonia that occurs in North America.-Description:Its wingspan is between 4.4 and 6.3 cm. The top of the wings is bright orange-brown while the summer forms often have a dark border on the hindwing. Both winter and summer forms have few yellow...
)
External links
- Oreas Comma, Butterflies and Skippers of North America
- Oreas Comma, Butterflies of Canada