Polygonia gracilis

Polygonia gracilis is resident across Canada and the western United states from Alaska to California and east to Texas/Wyoming, with two separate populations in North and South Dakota (Scott 1986). Habitats are Canadian to Hudsonian zone taiga in the north, and transition to Hudsonian zone valleys in the southern part of the range. Host plants are shrubs and include many species but mostly in two families, Grossulariaceae and Ericaceae. Eggs are laid on leaves of the host plant. Individuals overwinter as adults. There is a variable number of flights based on latitude, in the northern part of the range there is one flight that occurs Aug.1-30 and in the southern part of their range and lower mountains there are two flights occurring late June-early Aug. and at the end of Aug.; in lowland California there may be three flights (Scott 1986).

The dark, two-toned underside, with a dark basal half and lighter outer half, is most similar to the Oreas and Grey Commas (P. oreas and P. progne). In gracilis, the submarginal spots on the hindwing upperside are diffuse, not well-defined and surrounded by a dark area as in progne. Gracilis also has a more 'contrasty' underside than progne. In the foothills south of the Crowsnest Pass, gracilis can be tricky to separate from the Oreas Comma; The Hoary has wing fringes that are more lobed than angulate, and lacks the patches of white wing fringes. It has a grey rather than grey-brown underside.  Subspecies zephyrus occurs in at least parts of Alberta, which is by some considered to be a species separate from gracilis (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Layberry et al. (1998) and Scott (1986) treat them as one species, and Norbert Kondla has also appraised this situation with similar conclusions. Some Alberta populations do not look like any described subspecies (Layberry et al. 1998, Kondla pers. com.).  

Ranges from the southeastern Yukon south and east through the boreal region to Newfoundland and New England (Layberry et al. 1998), south in the West to New Mexico and California (Opler 1999).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Alaska and Yukon east across Canada. Extends south to the Great Lakes, northern New England, Adirondacks. Falsely reported from Indiana.

A species of foothills and boreal forests, particularly moist coniferous forest openings.

Comments: A boreal forest species. Eastward most likely where currants (Ribes) are common and not south of (or below) regions where spruce and fir are common. Westward apparently mostly montane coniferous forests often near streams. At least in the west adults wander to other habitats.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

The larvae feed on currants, gooseberries (Ribes spp.) and white rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum) in BC (Guppy & Shepard 2001).

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 21 - 80

2500 - 10,000 individuals

Comments: Uncommon through most of its range.

Adults feed on flower nectar, sap and mud. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

One brood per year, appearing in early spring (April to May) and again in August to October.

The mature larvae are predominantly black with branched spines and black heads, with the back of the front half reddish (Guppy & Shepard 2001). The dorsum of the back half is white. Pupae can be either light or dark brown, possibly reflecting the sex of the individual, with females being dark (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Like other commas, adults emerge in late summer, are active until fall, then enter hibernation in sheltered areas such as hollow logs and buildings. Adults emerge from hibernation in spring, when they mate and reproduce (Guppy & Shepard 2001).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 5
Specimens with Barcodes: 44
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 4 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Not of concern.

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Eastern subspecies is somewhat rare in collections. Probably more common than thought. Very widespread and more common westward..

Degree of Threat: C : Not very threatened throughout its range, communities often provide natural resources that when exploited alter the composition and structure over the short-term, or communities are self-protecting because they are unsuitable for other uses

Comments: Unknown.

Biological Research Needs: Need to collate collection data and conduct survey.

Global Protection: Unknown whether any occurrences are appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Unknown. Probably C.