Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 28,190 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Eastern Comma: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma, the eastern comma, is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Comma by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 3,771 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 2,320 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Virginia | 2,048 | March | Mar–Oct |
| Illinois | 2,030 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,976 | April | Mar–Oct |
| New York | 1,523 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Minnesota | 1,374 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,297 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Vermont | 1,188 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Missouri | 1,012 | September | Mar–Oct |
| Tennessee | 989 | March | Mar–Oct |
| Michigan | 960 | July | Jun–Oct |
| North Carolina | 943 | March | Mar–Oct |
| Indiana | 813 | August | Jun–Oct |
| New Jersey | 766 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Kentucky | 588 | March | Mar–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 494 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Iowa | 483 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Nebraska | 418 | July | Jun–Oct |
| West Virginia | 405 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Connecticut | 377 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 317 | March | Mar–May |
| Georgia | 270 | March | Feb–May |
| New Hampshire | 243 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Kansas | 240 | September | Feb–Oct |
| Delaware | 214 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 154 | April | Feb–May |
| Alabama | 153 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Texas | 137 | April | Mar–May |
| District of Columbia | 136 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Maine | 132 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 132 | May | Mar–May |
| South Dakota | 112 | September | Jul–Oct |
| North Dakota | 79 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Mississippi | 37 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 34 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Louisiana | 18 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Eastern Comma?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from March to October.
Where is Eastern Comma most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia.