Polygonia interrogationis

Nymphalinae (True Brushfoots)

Two broods. The first generation flies from late June through mid-July. The second generation flies from mid-August to October, migrates south and overwinters, then returns in June.

Woodlands and adjacent open areas, rivers, swamps, parks, backyards.

American Elm (Ulmus americanus), Red Elm (Ulmus rubra), hackberry (Celtis spp.), Japanese Hop (Humulus japonicus), nettles (Urtica spp.), and False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).

Adults prefer to feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion. When these are unavailable do they visit flowers such as Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), aster, and sweet pepperbush.

The question mark takes its name from a silvery mark on the underside of the hindwing. The mark is broken and is in the shape of a question mark. There is a diagnostic horizontal black mark at the forward end of the forewing dot row. This mark is unique to the question mark and easy to see in the field.

The hindwing of the summer form is mostly black. The hindwing of the winter form is orange.The light outer border on the upper wings of fresh winter forms is pale violet.

The question mark can be distinguished from the eastern comma (Polygonia comma) and other commas by the “extra” horizontal marking on the upper forewing, and by the broken silvery mark on the underside of the hindwing.