Global menu

Insects and other arthropods

Question mark

English
Polygonia interrogationis

Tabs group

Description

The question mark is one of the largest and loveliest of the Polygonia butterflies. Its wings are rust-coloured with many black and pale lilac spots close to the edges. The silver mark shaped like a question mark on the underside of its lower wings is where it gets its English and Latin name. A narrow lilac band runs around the edge of the top side of its wings, while the underside is a uniform shade of rust. The butterfly’s wingspan ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 cm.

Life cycle

Eggs are laid one on top of the other in a vertical column, a horizontal line or in isolation on leaves of host plants. This butterfly spends the winter in its adult stage. There are two generations each year in Quebec.

Geographic distribution

This species is found along the east coast, all the way to Hudson Bay.