Sussex Branch

Butterfly Species in Sussex

Description

One of our five regular over-wintering butterfly species, Commas usually delay emergence until the warmth of spring, when numbers peak in early April. It is primarily a woodland species and in spring/early summer is most readily found in sun-exposed woodland rides. The second peak occurs between July and September, when they frequently visit gardens to gorge on nectar and rotten fruit, before hibernating for the winter. A sun-exposed patch of Common Nettles will encourage breeding, or as an alternative, plant a Hop or two (and they are easy to grow).

Where to find

In the spring they should be fairly easy to find in any sunny, woodland ride. In mid-summer they can often be found nectaring on Blackberry blossom and in late summer drinking the juice of the Blackberries. In late summer/early autumn, large numbers may appear in our gardens as they seek the nectar of Buddleia and in early/late autumn, look for them on the flowers of Common Ivy.

Image gallery

Comma nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by Martin Kalaher

Closed wings, showing the white “comma”

Nectaring on Blackberry blossom

Nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis

Nectaring on Devilsbit Scabious

Nectaring on Buddleia

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More information

Butterfly Conservation Comma