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Eastern Question Mark

Polygonia interrogationis

Photo by AshleyAkers
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

On its back this butterfly is bright orange with a few black spots, however, when it closes its wings it is camoflauged with tree bark. There are two different closely related species in the U.S. One the Eastern Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), like the one shown above, has a small curve and a dot on the underside of its wing. The Eastern comma will only have the curve and no dot.

Notes:

Found flying around the grape arbor. Every time a bird flew away this butterfly looked to be like it was chasing it.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Ashish
Wow...You got it...!!
AshleyAkers
The species of butterfly I found on the website you gave me, Ashish, I believe was the other very similar species to the Eastern Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), the Eastern comma (Polygonia comma). I was able to zoom in on a picture I had of the underside of its wings and see the question mark with the curve and the dot. Here is a website I found that helped me draw the conclusion. Feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree and thanks for your website suggestion! http://dendroica.blogspot.com/2011/06/question-mark.html
Ashish
Please check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_(butterfly)

Spotted for Missions

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Butterflies & Moths of the World
Photographed
PublishedJuly 6, 2011

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