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 998 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 02, 2025
Observation date: Oct 20, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 04, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Oct 03, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 11, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 04, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Apr 11, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: May 10, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 12, 2025
Observation date: Apr 11, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 16, 2025
Observation date: Apr 11, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Park County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 13, 2025
Observation date: Feb 25, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Feb 24, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 25, 2025
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
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