Critters of the Week
Critters of the Week
A wild critter we spotted in the RVA area and a critter up for adoption by Richmond SPCA.
Where Spotted: Pony Pasture
Common Name: Eastern Comma aka Hop Merchant or Comma Anglewing
Scientific Name: Polygonia comma
Wingspan:1.75 to 2.0 inches
Quick Facts Courtesy of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Studies
- The eastern comma is found throughout most of the eastern U.S. south to north central Florida and the northern Gulf states, and west to eastern Wyoming and Colorado.
- It is a relatively small inconspicuous butterfly that is rather closely associated with moist woods where its preferred nettle hosts grow, but it sometimes strays into other areas.
- With its wings folded, it resembles a dead leaf and is highly cryptic.
- There are two color forms that generally correlate with the “summer” and “winter” adult generations. The upper side of the hind wings is predominantly black in the summer form and mostly orange in the winter generation.
- There are two generations per year, with the summer brood probably estivating for much of the summer as adults and the fall-winter brood overwintering as adults.
- Adults feed on fermenting fruit and tree sap but rarely on flower nectar.
- Males perch in the sun on foliage or tree trunks to await females and defend territories.
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Sandler at Richmond SPCA
Sandler came to the Richmond SPCA from a terribly sad hoarding situation where many cats and kittens are being neglected. It took several weeks to get him healthy enough to be ready for adoption, but now he’s neutered and continuing to recover from the severe upper respiratory and other symptoms with which he arrived. Sandler is more than ready to write his next chapter with the person who gives him a home and helps him leave his past behind.
Age: 6 years,
Gender: Neutered Male
Color: Black
ID: 49565766
Adopt Sandler at Richmond SPCA
Learn more about their adoption process.
