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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 699 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Walkerka
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: briahna
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 23, 2019
Observation date: Jun 18, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 19, 2019
Observation date: Jun 10, 2019
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2019
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 10, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2018
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2019
Observation date: May 16, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 23, 2019
Observation date: May 13, 2019
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: May 18, 2019
Observation date: May 12, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: May 18, 2019
Observation date: May 01, 2019
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 16, 2019
Observation date: Apr 26, 2019
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 01, 2019
Observation date: Mar 31, 2019
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2019
Observation date: Mar 30, 2019
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2007
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 28, 2019
Observation date: May 02, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Oct 11, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 12, 2018
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: lizmcd
Region: Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: Stefan Kreitmeier
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 14, 2018
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2018
Observation date: Aug 03, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 02, 2018
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