Question Mark

Meet a Question Mark butterfly. On the underwing they can be differentiated from the similar-looking Eastern Comma butterfly (which is a relative, and shares traits, food choices, and behaviors) because of a curve mark and a dot mark, while the Eastern Comma has only the curve mark:

  1. These marks are responsible for the names "question mark" and "comma".
  2. Personally I think that a Semicolon butterfly would be a slightly better name for the Question Mark given their appearance, though admittedly the question mark is a much more recognizable punctuation mark.

But what happens when you only have the more colorful top wing view? While the color and spot patterns are similar, there is a subtle difference in the spot patterns. On the Question Mark there is a straighter and extra spot on the forewing; I've attempted to point to it here.

One of the cool things about both the Question Mark and its Eastern Comma cousin is that both of these guys survive the winter, and you can see them far earlier into the spring than most butterflies. (I'm told that you could see them in the middle of winter if you get 2-3 days around 60 degrees, but this doesn't happen very often in New Jersey and I've never seen one in the middle of winter.)

Another interesting thing is that most butterflies love nectar, but when it comes to nectar Question Marks/Eastern Commas can take it or leave it. They're cool with drinking sap or the fluids from rotting fruit.

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