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Species Polygonia gracilis - Hoary Comma - Hodges#4427
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Subfamily Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc.)
Tribe Nymphalini
Genus Polygonia (Commas, Question Mark)
Species gracilis (Hoary Comma - Hodges#4427)
Other Common Names Hoary Anglewing
Graceful Anglewing Explanation of Names GRACILIS: from "gracile", meaning slender or gracefully slender; probably a reference to the slender silver "comma" mark on the underside of the hindwing Numbers uncommon to rare in the east; usually common in the west Identification Adult: eastern subspecies best distinguished by dark inner part of underside of wings, contrasting strongly with gray, "hoary" outer part; hindwing upperside with bright yellow spots in dark wing margin; silver comma on underside of hindwing thin and pointed at both ends
Larva: dark brown with reddish dorsal streaks and spines on front half of body, and whitish dorsal patches and spines on rear half Range Alaska (south of the tundra) to Nunavut and Labrador, south in the east to New England, and south in the west to California and New Mexico Habitat forest openings and edges, woodland streamsides, brushlands from foothills to treeline in mountains in the south; boreal forest south of the tundra in the north Season adults found in spring until June have overwintered; the new generation flies from July to September, then overwinters Food Larvae feed on currant and gooseberry (Ribes spp.), elm, Mock Azalea (Menziesia glabella), and Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale).
Adults sometimes take nectar from flowers such as aster and everlasting (Gnaphalium spp.), unlike other members of this genus. Life Cycle one generation per year; overwinters as an adult; adult females emerge in spring and lay eggs until June, then die Remarks Subspecies P. g. zephyrus (until recently considered a separate species by most authors) has a western distribution from southern British Columbia, Alberta, and the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, south to California and New Mexico. The underside of its wings are dark silvery-gray, showing less contrast than in the eastern subspecies P. g. gracilis
The nominate subspecies (P. g. gracilis) occurs in the east from Manitoba to Labrador and Nova Scotia, south to New England states. The underside of its wings are dark brown in the basal half, contrasting sharply with the hoary gray outer half.
An unnamed intermediate form occurs from Alaska to Nunavut, south to Manitoba and central British Columbia, where it intergrades with subspecies zephyrus. Its wings are grayish-brown beneath with a moderate line of contrast separating the two halves. See Also Lacks central spot on upperside of hindwing, present in Green and Satyr Commas. (1)
Gray Comma lacks contrast between basal and outer halves of underside of both wings Internet References Butterflies of North America; USGS (live adult images by Paul Opler, plus US distribution map, description, biology, food plants, seasonality, etc.)
Butterflies of Canada; CBIF (pinned adult images plus description, subspecies, distribution, biology, food plants, seasonality, etc.) Works Cited | 1. | Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co. |  |
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