Comma butterflies are emerging and warming their wings in the sunshine. They are the first of the large colourful butterflies, including peacocks and small tortoiseshells, that make their appearance in high summer. These began their lives in the spring, as eggs laid by butterflies that had just come out of hibernation. Commas are a striking orange colour with black markings, and have very ragged-looking wings. They look like the revolutionary fabrics produced by the Bloomsbury artists’ Omega Workshops in 1913-1919 (now on show at the Courtauld). They get their name from a little silver comma-like mark on the underside of their wings. They like to bask on stone paths in gardens, but they fly off fast, with occasional glides, if disturbed. They are taking nectar at present from the pale white bramble flowers. Later they will gather on Michaelmas daisies and buddleia, and when fruit is ripe they will glut themselves on juicy windfalls.
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