A few of these orange and brown butterflies were seen fluttering about today. The Question Mark Butterfly gets its name from a little silver marking on its wings which you can see when it has its wings folded in its resting position.
The color of the top of the hindwing changes depending on the time of year. 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; hiding in cracks and crevices of wood, they remain inactive through the cold months. Their colors help keep them hidden and safe.
The Question Mark is found primarily in wooded areas that have open spaces, such as city parks and fence rows. Adult males will sit during the afternoon hours on tree trunks waiting for females. They’ll leave their perches to chase away other insects and even birds. Some adults stay in the northern United States to hibernate, while others migrate south. Butterflies that hibernate are among the longest lived butterflies in Ohio.
