The Comma has undergone an amazing change of fortunes in Cheshire since Ellis (1890) recorded it as “very local and not common where it does occur” – at that time the only sites listed were at Delamere, Chester and a few places on the Wirral. Day (1903) then added that it was also “locally common” at the Wyches. Subsequently, however, it was considered to be on the verge of extinction throughout the UK and there were no recorded sightings in Cheshire between 1904 and 1918. In the ensuing years there were a few scattered sightings until the 1940’s when there was evidence that a slow recovery was underway. Although little documented recording occurred at that time the improvements in the fortunes of this butterfly continued until Rutherford (1983) considered it to be “widespread, but by no means common”.
The formation of the Cheshire & Peak District branch of Butterfly Conservation in 1985 coincided with a period of further expansion in the distribution of the Comma, especially in the northern half of the county, as well as the Pennine hills bordering Derbyshire. Data shows that this insect has now been recorded in 564 of Cheshire’s 688 tetrads (82% of the total).
Favoured habitats of the Comma are open woodlands and along mature hedgerows, although many recorders probably see it most frequently in late summer taking nectar from garden plants. This butterfly has a complicated life cycle following its appearance after hibernation on the first warm days of spring. In late June and July adult insects appear in two colour forms – the earliest to emerge being the paler, but brighter golden-coloured insect known as the “hutchinsoni” form. These butterflies will have developed during the period when daylight hours were lengthening. It is this “hutchinsoni” form that produces a second brood later in the season. By late July insects that have developed over a longer period during shortening daylight hours will also have emerged. These butterflies are of the normal dull-brown form and do not produce a second brood, but simply search for nectar to build up their reserves in preparation for hibernating.
In some parts of the country, until a decline in the hop-growing industry during the late nineteenth century, it was Hop (Humulus lupulus) that was the main larval foodplant of the Comma. Nowadays, and especially in Cheshire, it is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) or possibly elms (Ulmus spp.) that are the main foodplants.
The Comma is most frequently observed in ones or twos, but concentrations occasionally occur most notably in 2006 when there were impressive counts of 63 at Woolston Eyes on 8th September, 40 at Rixton Claypits on 9th September and 50+ at Ness Gardens on 10th October. The time of peak numbers of this insect vary considerably from year to year, but normally occur at some period during the late summer – in the last three years they have been recorded in September 2007, October 2008 and July 2009. Hibernation often takes place later than other species with the latest sightings in Cheshire at Heswall on 26th November 2006 and Delamere Forest on 26th November 2009.
Ellis, J.W. (1890). The Lepidopterous Fauna of Lancashire and Cheshire
Day, G.O. (1903). A list of Lepidoptera found in the counties of Cheshire, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Carnarvonshire and Anglesey.
Rutherford, C.I. (1983). Butterflies in Cheshire 1961 to 1982.
Written by Barry Shaw for News, the Cheshire and Peak District Branch of Butterfly Conservation magazine.