Hoary comma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Polygonia
Species:
P. gracilis
Binomial name
Polygonia gracilis
(Grote & Robinson, 1867)
Synonyms

Nymphalis gracilis

The hoary comma (Polygonia gracilis) is a species of butterfly, common in boreal North America from Alaska, across southern Canada to New England and the Maritime Provinces and south to New Mexico from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The wings have a distinctive ragged edge.[1][2]

Adult butterflies feed on tree sap and nectar from sweet everlasting (Gnaphalium) as well as other flowers.[3] Caterpillars feed on shrub leaves including currant (Ribes), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) and mock azalea (Rhododendron menziesii).

The species survives the winter in the adult stage in diapause and mate and lay eggs in the spring. Butterflies emerge from their chrysalids in midsummer.

References

  1. ↑ Sommer, Stefan; Denise Knight; Stephanie McDowell; Stephen Burton; Ean Harker. "Polygonia gracilis". Digital Atlas of Idaho. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  2. ↑ Opler, Paul A. (2006). Harry Pavulaan; Ray E. Stanford; Michael Pogue (eds.). "Hoary Comma". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: NBII Mountain Prairie Information Node. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  3. ↑ "Polygonia gracilis". explorer.natureserve.org.
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