Hoary Comma
Polygonia gracilis (Grote & Robinson, 1867)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is dark red-orange, borders darker; hindwing with yellow submarginal spots. Underside is gray-brown; outer half much lighter, frosted white or silver-gray. Silver spot at center of hindwing is fishhook-shaped.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches (3.9 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: In the afternoons, males perch on plants in valley bottoms to seek females. Eggs are laid on petioles and undersides of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest underneath. Adults hibernate.
Flight: Overwintered adults emerge and lay eggs in the spring until June; the new generation appears in July and flies until September, then hibernates.
Caterpillar Hosts: Currants and gooseberries (Ribes), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), and mock azalea (Menziesia glabella).
Adult Food: Sap and nectar from flowers of sweet everlasting (Gnaphalium) among others.
Habitat: From foothills to treeline woodland streamsides, brushlands.
Range: Boreal North America south of the tundra. Central Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico; east across southern Canada and the Great Lakes region to New England and the Maritimes.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported. Note:The Zephyr, subspecies zephyrus, was previously treated as a separate subspecies.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 979 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 12, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 20, 2024
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 19, 2024
Observation date: Oct 11, 2024
Submitted by: SandraB
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 20, 2024
Submitted by: srhflsmck
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 08, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Eureka County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: regina rochefort
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Columbia County, Washington, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
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