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Southern Comma
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S Greece, July
2007 |
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Crete, June 2004 |
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Sicily, Italy, May 2000 |
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Southern
Comma Distribution: SE France, Italy, Balkans, Greece. It appears to have become very rare in France. Identification: This species and the Comma, P. c-album, are distinctive. They have highly scalloped wings, looking like a dead leaf with wings closed. The uppersides are rich orange brown with darker brown spots. To separate these two species, please refer to the pages for the Comma, P. c-album. The Southern Comma is generally paler and brighter with fewer and smaller black marking on the upperside. Flight time: Flies throughout the summer in 2 or 3 generations. Hibernates as an adult, emerging in early spring. Habitat: Cliffs or rocky places, often with open woodland or scrub nearby. Equally frequently (or infrequently!) encountered in villages. Behaviour: Loves resting on rock faces or walls where it basks in bright sunshine. I have the impression it generally basks with head facing downwards. Also loves nectar rich flowers such as Red Valerian or Dwarf Alder. Additional notes: I've not seen this butterfly so many times but it is often a pleasant surprise in villages in hilly areas where it frequents flowers, such as Red Valerian, along walls and roadsides. |
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Sicily, Italy, May 2000 The best underside view I have |
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Pelopennesos, Greece, June 2002 Accompanied by Melanargia larissa |
