Green Comma is similar to the common Eastern Comma, but a little smaller, darker beneath, and with a more jagged trailing edge of the wings. Like Eastern, there's a nice silvery-white comma mark. It tends to be not as angled as that on Eastern Comma -- on Green it's shaped like a comma, with Eastern it's often more like a "C".

When seen well, the lichen-green bands on the underside of the wings are just amazing. Green Comma was high on my want-to-see list on a trip to Oregon.

Jefferson Co., OR 8/2/06.

The race in North Carolina (smythi) is much darker beneath than the race in Oregon (rusticus) and the green bands are a more grayish-green.

In North Carolina, Green Commas are found only in the mountains, where they are rare and even more rarely encountered. When we heard a report of 9 Green Commas at Mount Mitchell, we dropped everything and made a wild butterfly chase, finding 8 on 9/13/2008.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Resting on Harry LeGrand's shirt, no doubt attracted by salty sweat.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Facial view.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.

Jefferson Co., OR 8/2/06.

Same individual as in the top photo.

Silver Falls State Park, Marion Co. OR 7/31/06.

Mt Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC 9/13/08.