Polygonia comma, Different Forms

[leptraps]

I have managed to collect 20+ specimens of Polygonia comma that are not typical. I have read in several publications that there is a winter form and a summer form. In the photograph below are three specimens that I assume are the "winter" form. Then why are they on the wing in the summer. These three specimens on top are supposedly the winter form and were collected in Bait Traps this AM 19 June 2018. The single specimen below was also collected in the same bait trap on the same day and appears to be a typical Polygonia comma.

Any suggestions?

[hypanartia]

P. comma is very variable. You are obviously right, but to be sure, the upper surface of the hindwing will be very dark in the "summer form" and brightly colored in the "winter form", although there is a lot of in between. The "winter form" overwinter as adults and lay eggs in early spring. They are long lived. You can easily have easily mixed phenotype populations with both summer and winter individuals, particularly at the spring and autumn. That will be easier as you move south.
On the other hand, I think your top specimens are females, and the one at the bottom is a male, which have a slightly different coloration and edge shape.