Question Mark Butterfly
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Polygonia
Species: P. interrogationis
General Characteristics: Question mark butterflies (Polygonia interrogationis) get their name from their wings. The forewings of question mark butterflies are hooked. The upperside of the 2.25 -3 inch wings are red-orange with black spots. The color of the top of the hindwing can change. In the summer, it is mostly black with a short tail. The winter form has a lot of orange and a longer, violet-tipped tail. The underside is light brown; the hindwings have a pearly-white question mark in the center, giving the butterfly its name.
Special Adaptations: Males find females by perching on leaves or tree trunks in the afternoon, flying to chase other insects and even birds. Females lay eggs singly or stacked under leaves of plants that are usually not the hosts. Caterpillars must find a host plant; they then eat leaves and live alone. Adults of the winter form hibernate; some staying in the north, many migrating to the south.
No comments:
Post a Comment