Punctuation

We've seen relatively few Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterflies in the garden this year, which is surprising, considering that adults feed on a huge variety of flowering plants and larvae feed on Common Nettle, which is growing (almost bush-like) in all corners of the garden. This one fluttered its way around the patch recently, spending much of its time visiting Buddleia flowers or resting, spread-winged, on nearby vegetation. The jagged edges to the wings, and the bold orange and black pattern on their upperside make this an easy species to identify. The underside is far more cryptic; when its wings are closed, the butterfly strongly resembles a dead leaf — with a little "comma" mark (hence its common name) on the hindwing. This one has clearly had a close encounter with a bird; that nip at the back of the right hindwing is just about the perfect beak shape!

According to Butterfly Conservation, Commas underwent a huge decline in the British Isles in the last century, before their populations rebounded again. Now they're common and widespread across much of England and Wales, though still rare in Scotland and Northern Ireland. They're recorded in virtually every month of the year, though they're not typically seen flying between November and late February. They overwinter as adults, hibernating in sheltered places, and are among the first butterflies to be seen in early spring.