A medium-sized butterfly common in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, in Europe, and as far as Japan. In Israel it is a very rare flier on Mount Hermon in August and September. Its wingspan is about 45 mm. It produces one generation per year. The butterfly's wings are serrated, and in the center of the rear wing, on the underside, there appears a kind of white comma, hence its Hebrew name. The male is darker than the female. Apparently, the adult is the one that undergoes diapause during the winter, in a sheltered place.
The female lays her eggs on the nettle as single eggs or in small groups. The egg is green.
From the egg hatches a hairy larva, greenish brown in color, with a black head. As the larva grows, its color turns black and it develops orange tubercles. The back in its rear part is white. Its maximum size is about 35 mm.
The pupa is brown in color and has six white spots at its front. Its size is about 20 mm and the pupal period is about two weeks.

Former name: Comma butterfly