July 29, 2025

A butterfly with an odd name, this is a Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis). There is also a butterfly called Comma. These two butterflies look quite similar. The easiest way for me to tell the difference is to look at the butterfly in the ventral position (wings up and closed). The Question Mark has a small white crescent with a white dot next to it on the two hindwings. This is the question mark. The Comma has a similar white crescent, again in the center of the two hindwings. This is the comma.

Host plants of these Question Mark larvae are a variety of plants including American Elm (Ulmus americanus), Red Elm (Ulmus rubra), and Hackberry (Celtis), plus others.

The adult Question Mark has a wingspan of 2 to 3 inches. They get their nutrition from rotting fruit, tree sap, dung or carrion. If none of these are available they will resort to finding flowers and eating their nectar.

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