Question Mark Butterfly
Question Mark butterflies resemble Eastern Commas, but look for the fourth "flattened dot" at the end of the row of three dots. Question Marks have this fourth flattened dot; Eastern Commas almost never do (except in rare cases). Question Marks are also slightly larger on average, but there is some overlap in their size ranges.
This is the "umbrosa" or summer-form Question Mark butterfly. Notice that the lower wings are dark, as opposed to the lighter winter forms above.
This is the underside of a Question Mark butterfly. Note that there is a white crescent-shaped marking with a small dot on its hindwing. This mark is what gives the butterfly its name. However, this marking is quite variable, and the small dot is not always separated from the crescent-shaped mark like this.
This Question Mark butterfly was resting along the boardwalk at Cedar Bog. Question Marks fly from early spring through late fall. I have found them every month from March through November.
Questions Mark butterflies have different forms depending on the season. The individuals at left and above are the winter form. In wintertime, these butterflies have light-colored hindwings and a thin white (or pale blue) border on their wings. This winter-form Question Mark was photographed at Oakes Quarry in October 2024.
