David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________________________________
Butterflies 25 – Commas
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA
BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album
COMMA BUTTERFLY Polygonia c-album COMMA BUTTERFLY LARVA Polygonia c-album
- The upperside, underside and fully-grown larva of this
highly distinctive species are shown. The eponymous white markings are
visible on the undersides of the hindwings. In this case the generic and
specific scientific names are both very appropriate. Two forms of the
adult butterflies occur. Summer brood var. hutchinsoni
butterflies are brighter than the typical form adults and they may be
confused with Silver-washed
Fritillaries Argynnis paphia
as they have a similar ground colour. These bright
butterflies are produced in greater numbers during warm spring weather and
studies have shown that the larvae are capable of producing either typical
(over-wintering) or short-lived hutchinsoni
adults depending upon the number of hours of daylight available. The hutchinsoni
adults give rise to an additional generation of typical over-wintering
butterflies and help to consolidate the population. This fast-track
strategy therefore enables this species to take advantage of favourable
conditions. A very good account of the life-history is given in the much
sought after 'The
Butterflies of Britain & Ireland', Jeremy Thomas
and Richard Lewington, Dorling Kindersley, 1991. ISBN 0-86318-591-6, a
superb reference work that has recently been revived by British Wildlife
Publishing in an expanded form following a long period out of print.
Despite the significant decline of Elm
Ulmus sp., one of the
principal larval food-plants, this butterfly remains common, in contrast
to the well-known and dramatic population crash which occurred during the
nineteenth century. Other food sources are utilised including Hop Humulus
sp. and Stinging
Nettle Urtica dioica. The root cause of this crash
has never been fully explained. Likely candidates include disease,
parasitism or unfavourable climate change. There is an unfortunate
parallel with the present fate of the Large Tortoiseshell, although this
species has probably never been firmly established as a British species.
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