The presence of multiple black spots on both the top and bottom wings, along with a light border on the lower wing serve as good field identificaiton clues.
It is one of the only comma species found at lower elevations near the caterpillar host plant, stinging nettle. Adults overwinter in their territory and re-emerge during early spring.
Using a picture with a top view, the two black spots on the bottom wing along with the light brown and mustard wing border with tail, serve as the basic identification clues.
The bottom picture shows a side view. Like other comma species, they live in and around forested areas. Often they can be found nectaring near streams.
Some experts differentiate between the Eastern and Western species, calling the Western species Zephyr Commas.
Like many comma species, they are found primarily in forested areas, with males often basking an roadsides or branches.
Dark borders on both the top and bottom wings often serve as the first identification clue. The black spot in the middle of the bottom wing (and below two additional black spots) serves as the second identification clue.
The dark border around the bottom of the wing coupled with the lack of a dark spot in the middle of the bottom wing serve as the primary identification clues. See the Green Comma example to differentiate between the species.
Gray commas are found from coast to coast in northern forest areas. There is some controversy whether to separate the Gray Comma and the Oreas Comma (P. oreas), or to consider them the same species.
