Polygonia gracilis zephyrus

Photo Life History: Polygonia gracilis zephyrus

Habitat:  Mountain Canyons; Mountain Hilltops

Host Plants:  Ribes cereum; Ribes montigenum; Ribes viscosissimum

Suitable Lab Host Plants:

How to Find Female Butterflies:  Click here. 

Caring for Live Female Butterflies:  Nectaring techniques

Methods of Female Oviposition:  Portable Cages; Expose caged females to filtered sunlight. 

How to Find Eggs:

How to Hatch Eggs:  Consolidate eggs into one container.

How to Find Caterpillars in the Field: Look for Caterpillar Strip Patterns.  The key to finding hoary comma caterpillars is to look in July and August for late instar larvae which strip leaves in a unique pattern towards the end of branches.  (See link above.) 

How to Find Pupae in the Field: 

Caterpillar setups:  Open terrariums; Open Bucket

Larva to Pupa:  Caterpillar silks to leaf or twig; creates and attaches cremaster; hanging as a J before pupating.

Number of Broods per Year:  1; depending upon location

Overwintering Stage:  Adult

Overwintering Strategies:

Post-Hibernation Strategies: 

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Avoiding Diapause Techniques:  

Disease Prevention:  Change out host plant and remove frass every four to five days in an open bucket or open terrarium setup. 

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Field Notes:  Larvae that feed on Ribes montigenum can camouflage themselves well.