Commas, Question Mark

Polygonia

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Tribe: Nymphalini
Genus: Polygonia

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Polygonia: /ˌpɒlɪˈɡoʊniə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Polygonia faunus MHNT dos by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Polygonia gracilis zephyrus P1290360b by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

NW63-13 Polygonia faunus (3429954752) by NSG group from Lund, Sweden. Used under a CC0 license.

Kootenay.Polygonia.faunus.P1023141 by Membeth. Used under a CC0 license.

Polygonia gracilis (29754268382) by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) - geograph.org.uk - 3091132 by Roger Jones . Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Summary

Polygonia is a genus of butterflies known for their distinctive wing shapes and patterns. They hold a unique place in the Nymphalidae family and are recognized for their hibernation as adults and various life cycle strategies among different species.

Physical Characteristics

Polygonia species are characterized by their irregular outer wing outline and the presence of dark spots on an orange background. The underside of their hindwings features a prominent white or silver mark, known as the 'comma' mark, which is a distinguishing characteristic of the genus.

Identification Tips

Easily recognized by the angular notches on the outer edges of their forewings and the prominent comma mark on the underside of the hindwings. Comparison with similar genera like Nymphalis reveals distinctions in wing shape and color pattern.

Habitat

Varied, but usually found in wooded areas near larval host plants.

Distribution

North America and Eurasia, with nine Nearctic species (two restricted to Mexico) and six to seven additional species in Eurasia.

Diet

Caterpillars primarily feed on plants from the families Urticaceae, Grossulariaceae, Salicaceae, and Ulmaceae.

Life Cycle

Polygonia butterflies overwinter as adults. They can have one to several broods per year, depending on the region, with consistent adult presence in spring and autumn. In southern areas, a summer brood may occur, often with a different coloration than the overwintering brood, while in northern regions, typically only one brood is produced.

Ecosystem Role

As part of the Nymphalinae subfamily, Polygonia species play a role in their ecosystems as herbivores in the larval stage and as pollinators in the adult stage.

Evolution

Polygonia is often treated as a subgenus under the closely related Nymphalis, indicating a close evolutionary relationship within the Nymphalinae.