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Species Details
Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameSatyr Comma
SeasonalityOne brood per year, appearing in early spring (April to May) and again in August to October.
IdentificationSatyr Commas have a striped (in males) or evenly-coloured (females) brown underside rather than two-toned grey like the other Polygonia species (except for the Question Mark, which is larger and has a violet upperside wing border). Satyrs are sexually dimorphic, and the underside of the female has a more monotone, smooth brown underside than the male.
Scientific Name
Polygonia satyrus
Common Name
Satyr Comma
Habitat
In woodlands throughout the province, particularly in the boreal and parkland regions.
Seasonality
One brood per year, appearing in early spring (April to May) and again in August to October.
Identification
Satyr Commas have a striped (in males) or evenly-coloured (females) brown underside rather than two-toned grey like the other Polygonia species (except for the Question Mark, which is larger and has a violet upperside…
Satyr Commas have a striped (in males) or evenly-coloured (females) brown underside rather than two-toned grey like the other Polygonia species (except for the Question Mark, which is larger and has a violet upperside wing border). Satyrs are sexually dimorphic, and the underside of the female has a more monotone, smooth brown underside than the male.
Life History
The eggs are whitish and have 10 to 12 vertical ribs. Mature larvae have a black, bilobed head with each lobe bearing a spine; the body is black with greenish white lines and black chevron marks along the dorsum, and…
The eggs are whitish and have 10 to 12 vertical ribs. Mature larvae have a black, bilobed head with each lobe bearing a spine; the body is black with greenish white lines and black chevron marks along the dorsum, and is covered in branched spines (Scott 1986, Layberry et al. 1998). The pupa is tan-coloured with a sivler patch below the thorax (Scott 1986). Adults live longer than most other butterflies since they hibernate; eggs are laid in the spring by overwintered females, and the next generation is on the wing by late summer. One of the first butterflies to appear in spring, becoming active in April, occasionally earlier with warm weather spells.
Conservation
No concerns.
Diet Info
The larvae have only been found on stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) in Canada (Layberry et al. 1998).
Range
Found throughout the boreal region of Canada from the central Yukon and southern Northwest territories east and south New England. South in the western US to New Mexico and California (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999).
Citation
Page Citation for Polygonia satyrus
Page Citation
"Species Details - Polygonia satyrus, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2659/9-27718. Accessed 01 Jan. 2025.
References
Author
Opler, Paul A.
Title
A field guide to western butterflies.
Publication Date
1999
Pages
540
Author
Bird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
Title
Alberta Butterflies
Publication Date
1995
Pages
349
Author
Guppy, Crispin S. and Jon H. Shepard
Title
Butterflies of British Columbia.
Publication Date
2001
Pages
414
Author
Layberry, Ross A.; Hall, Peter W. and J. Donald LaFontaine
Title
The Butterflies of Canada
Publication Date
1998
Pages
280
Author
Scott, J. A.
Title
The Butterflies of North America : a natural history and field guide
Publication Date
1986
Pages
583 pp.
Specimen Information
There are 405 specimens of this Species.
UASM24219 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edgerton
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2002-08-25
UASM25001 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-07-10
UASM25002 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1983-07-16
UASM25003 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cooking Lake
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1994-09-02
UASM25004 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Bragg Creek
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1994-08-01
UASM25005 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Plateau Mountain
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-08-27
UASM25006 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1996-06-08
UASM25007 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Plateau Mountain
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-08-27
UASM25008 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-05-19
UASM25009 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-05-19
UASM25023 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Milk River
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-07-02
UASM25024 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Milk River
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-07-02
UASM25025 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Plateau Mountain
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-08-27
UASM25026 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Bragg Creek
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1982-07-21
UASM25027 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-07-10
UASM25028 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-05-19
UASM25029 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Plateau Mountain
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-08-27
UASM25030 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Galatea Creek
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1994-07-30
UASM25031 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Patricia
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1983-07-15
UASM28356 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Milk River
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-07-02
UASM48927 - Polygonia satyrus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1924-09-26