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 49 - 72 of 982 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Sep 14, 2023
Submitted by: danfay
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: carmensmith
Region: Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Amanda and Graham
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: robertpb
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: dfagan746
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: dfagan746
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: May 21, 2019
Submitted by: Swinak
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
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