Butterflies of the UK. an insight into their lives: Comma, Life Cycle

Female Commas normally lay there ovum [eggs] on the edge of Nettle leaves and are fairly easy to find but, can be mistaken for a Red Admiral's ovum, [who also lay their ovum on Nettle leaves and, sometimes on the edge of the leaf] as both are very much alike. The contents of the ovum are green when first laid. Then after about 8 days the contents turn a light greenish yellow and eventually you can see the tiny larva through the skin/membrane of the ovum at least 24 hours before the larva emerges, as the membrane/skin of the ovum is transparent. There are 2 broods.

Comma ovum after about 8 eight days, now a light
greenish yellow in colour

Comma ovum after 12 days, the tiny larva is quite visible
through the transparent membrane/skin of the ovum

This stage can last anywhere between about 12-21 days depending on the weather conditions, hot, cold etc.

On the 13th day, this particular larva emerged, [the time scale for emerging larva does vary].

A newly emerged 1st instar larva

Once the larva have emerged they make their way to the back of the Nettle leaf, where they eat and rest-up, right up to the stage of the 3rd instar larva.

2nd instar Comma larva on the back of a Nettle leaf

Once they reach the 4th and 5th instar larva they become more exposed.

Final instar Comma larva

The larval stage lasts about 3 weeks, [but does vary in both broods] and there are 5 instars [4 moults] with the 1st brood in the Spring, and 4 instars [3 moults] with the 2nd brood in the summer. When the final instar larva is ready to pupate it will find a suitable stem, twig etc and, make a Cremaster which it will attach itself to with a number of tiny hooks at the bottom of it's abdomen, hanging up-side down.