Gray Comma - Hodges#4429
Polygonia progne
This record describes Polygonia progne (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperside is bright orange-brown; summer form has hindwing with a wide dark border, winter form has the border covering only about 1/4 of the wing; both enclosing a few small yellow spots. Underside is charcoal gray with fine dark striations; forewing with 3-4 light chevrons in a dark border. Silver mark in center of hindwing is small, slender, and L-shaped. In midafternoon, males perch on trees or shrubs at the edges of clearings to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on leaves of host plants; the caterpillars feed underneath. Adults overwinter.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Nymphalini
- Genus
- Polygonia (Commas, Question Mark)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Along dirt roads, along streamsides, and within clearings in rich deciduous or confierous woods, in aspen parks, yards, and gardens. Often in hilly terrain or canyons.
Geographic Range
Northwest Territories and British Columbia south along Pacific coast to central California, southeast through Montana, Utah, Colorado, and the Dakotas to eastern Nebraska, central Kansas, and central Arkansas; east through southern Canada and the northern United States to Maine and the Maritimes; south in the Appalachians to North Carolina.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillar hosts: Gooseberries (Ribes) and azalea (Rhododendron). Adult food: Sap; rarely flower nectar.
Life History
Two flights: In April and May the winter form emerges from hibernation, mates, and lays eggs which develop into the summer generation. Summer adults fly from June-August, laying eggs of the winter generation which appears in October and then hibernates.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polygonia progne. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gray Comma - Hodges#4429 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , tom murray , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Comma - Hodges#4429
What is Gray Comma - Hodges#4429?
Gray Comma - Hodges#4429 (Polygonia progne) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Comma - Hodges#4429?
Wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 /12 inches (4.4 - 6.3 cm).
How do you identify Gray Comma - Hodges#4429?
Upperside is bright orange-brown; summer form has hindwing with a wide dark border, winter form has the border covering only about 1/4 of the wing; both enclosing a few small yellow spots. Underside is charcoal gray with fine dark striations; forewing with 3-4 light chevrons in a dark border. Silver mark in center of hindwing is small, slender, and L-shaped.
Where is Gray Comma - Hodges#4429 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Along dirt roads, along streamsides, and within clearings in rich deciduous or confierous woods, in aspen parks, yards, and gardens. Often in hilly terrain or canyons. |
| Range | Northwest Territories and British Columbia south along Pacific coast to central California, southeast through Montana, Utah, Colorado, and the Dakotas to eastern Nebraska, central Kansas, and central Arkansas; east through southern Canada and the northern United States to Maine and the Maritimes; south in the Appalachians to North Carolina. |
What does Gray Comma - Hodges#4429 eat?
The diet of the Gray Comma - Hodges#4429 includes Caterpillar hosts: Gooseberries (Ribes) and azalea (Rhododendron). Adult food: Sap; rarely flower nectar..
What is the life cycle of a Gray Comma - Hodges#4429?
Two flights: In April and May the winter form emerges from hibernation, mates, and lays eggs which develop into the summer generation. Summer adults fly from June-August, laying eggs of the winter generation which appears in October and then hibernates.