Post by trehopr1 on Nov 9, 2018 7:25:43 GMT
The Question Mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) is a common species of butterfly found throughout all of the eastern United States (except peninsular Florida), southern Canada, west to the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, and south to southern Arizona and Mexico. In some older literature it has been called the "Violet Tip" butterfly; although this common name seems to have fallen out of favor in the last 30 or 40 years. The species exhibits 2 color forms which appear at different seasonal times (with minimal overlap).
Below, is a photograph of the "fall" form although some literature refers to it as the "winter" form.
Adults of this color form generally appear in late August and will spend the winter hibernating in various sheltered situations. With the warmth of spring and the budding of trees and scrubs these butterflies lay their eggs. Then usually about the end of May or early June the "summer" form of the butterfly begins to make its appearance which lasts until the end of September. All told, both forms only overlap each other for about a month.
Summer form individuals are what I consider the "typical" examples most people or collectors encounter. In the photo, they are the specimens with the wholly black hind wings (save for the violet edging). The fall forms lack the black hind wings and are instead much more orange overall with double the black spotting. The two are really very distinct in their appearance.
I thought I would bring attention to this fall/winter form because as a field collector I have seldom encountered it as often as the "typical" summer form. In fact, two fellow collector friends each have at least a dozen specimens representing the species; and yet they only have 1 specimen each of the "fall" form.
I surmise that because this form appears so late most collectors are near "hanging up the net" for the season. With the cooling of summer nights and the ever shortening days of sunlight these fellows just don't grab the attention their summer counterparts do. I have only collected 2 of these in many years of searching.
I regard this form as a special find of sorts and worthy of a notable article.
Below, is a photograph of the "fall" form although some literature refers to it as the "winter" form.
Adults of this color form generally appear in late August and will spend the winter hibernating in various sheltered situations. With the warmth of spring and the budding of trees and scrubs these butterflies lay their eggs. Then usually about the end of May or early June the "summer" form of the butterfly begins to make its appearance which lasts until the end of September. All told, both forms only overlap each other for about a month.
Summer form individuals are what I consider the "typical" examples most people or collectors encounter. In the photo, they are the specimens with the wholly black hind wings (save for the violet edging). The fall forms lack the black hind wings and are instead much more orange overall with double the black spotting. The two are really very distinct in their appearance.
I thought I would bring attention to this fall/winter form because as a field collector I have seldom encountered it as often as the "typical" summer form. In fact, two fellow collector friends each have at least a dozen specimens representing the species; and yet they only have 1 specimen each of the "fall" form.
I surmise that because this form appears so late most collectors are near "hanging up the net" for the season. With the cooling of summer nights and the ever shortening days of sunlight these fellows just don't grab the attention their summer counterparts do. I have only collected 2 of these in many years of searching.
I regard this form as a special find of sorts and worthy of a notable article.
