Is this a cormma

[tigertom]

Am I right in thinking this is a cormma seen them to day, I did see some back in spring and was told at the time no not cormmas you dont get them round hear, I live in north cheshire and do see these often in spring 1st time have seen them this late though.
Thanks
MIKE

[Johnny81]

Yup thats a Comma Polygonia c-album.
Not sure what a Cormma is though

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by tigertom

Am I right in thinking this is a cormma seen them to day, I did see some back in spring and was told at the time no not commas you dont get them round hear, I live in north cheshire and do see these often in spring 1st time have seen them this late though.

Yes your photo shows a female comma. This species is very widespread and extends up into Scotland so they should be quite abundant in Cheshire within suitable habitat. This is a species which hibernates as an adult which means you will see them during the spring and autumn and through winter on a very warm day or if it has ben disturbed. It is a species which is pretty much on the wing all year with a generation through the middle of the summer as well and only very small periods (late spring & late summer) when there are no/few adults on the wing. I personaly think they stand out a lot more in spring, for some reason, always one of the first butterflies I go looking for .

[tigertom]

Thanks for that, now I will be telling someone I was right, I thought I new what it was.
Sorry my spelling is poor
How common are commas in Britain I 1st seen one up this way about 2 years ago and have since then seen more and more of them each year since normally in spring, this is the 1st one ive seen one this late so do they over winter as an adult.

Cross posted there thanks dogghound for your answer

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by tigertom

How common are commas in britain .

They are common and widespread, perhaps not as common as close relative such as small tortoiseshell, peacock and red admiral but still one of our most common species. The species did suffer a huge population crash during the 19th century but numbers are now fully established.

Originally Posted by tigertom

so do they over winter as an adult.

Yes see my post above , they tend to overwinter in dry habitats particularly within woodland and are less associated with buildings as peacocks and small tortoiseshells area. They often hibernate on the south facing side of a tree low down in a crack, gap or within leaf piles at the bases of the trees, or sometimes old logs and other features which gather dead leaves (hence the pattern).

[aeshna5]

Where I am Commas are far more common than Small Tortoiseshells, though this wouldn't have been the case some 15 years or so back.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Where I am Commas are far more common than Small Tortoiseshells, though this wouldn't have been the case some 15 years or so back.

Is this due to Sturmia bella (the tachinid) do you think? I guess populations in different areas will without doubt have different compositions of species.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Is this due to Sturmia bella (the tachinid) do you think? I guess populations in different areas will without doubt have different compositions of species.

It's possible it is a factor, though at least numbers of Small Tortoiseshell have stabilised or possibly a slight increase, but still the scarcest of the regular resident vanessids.

I did read Butterfly Conservation had done some research + apparently it was not just the effect of Sturmia bella.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's possible it is a factor, though at least numbers of Small Tortoiseshell have stabilised or possibly a slight increase, but still the scarcest of the regular resident vanessids.

I did read Butterfly Conservation had done some research + apparently it was not just the effect of Sturmia bella.

Small tortoiseshell on the the up near me had not seen any for about 2 years but have seen a few this year in fact saw 3 or four today
MIKE

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's possible it is a factor, though at least numbers of Small Tortoiseshell have stabilised or possibly a slight increase, but still the scarcest of the regular resident vanessids.

I did read Butterfly Conservation had done some research + apparently it was not just the effect of Sturmia bella.

Interesting, it is the most common species here and one which seems to benifit from quite wet summers so may have been a good year for them this year.