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 241 - 264 of 1007 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: May 22, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: May 16, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 26, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2021
Submitted by: vazalt
Region: Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: May 10, 2021
Submitted by: flatus
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: Brush_lady
Region: Grant County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Mar 31, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: May 15, 2011
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 17, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2007
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Madison County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau (Charlotte Martineau)
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2021
Observation date: May 06, 2020
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 12, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: LisaFC
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 08, 2020
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