Question Mark in October

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Question Mark in October

October 22, 2019 by Mike Powell

When they keep their wings closed, some butterflies match their surroundings so well that they are almost invisible. Question Mark butterflies (Polygonia interrogationis) look like dead leaves and at this time of the year there are plenty of fallen leaves littering the landscape.

It was impossible for me to me the distinctive autumn colors of this Question Mark when I spotted it earlier this month at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I had to back up a bit in order to focus on the butterfly with my telephoto zoom lens and I actually had trouble seeing it when it decided to close its wings. Fortunately it spread its wings a little bit and I was able to capture the second image below.

A month or so ago it seemed like there were more dragonflies than butterflies, but now the ratio seems to have shifted. Butterflies, especially Common Buckeyes, are still flying in good numbers, while the quantity of dragonflies continues to drop.

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Polygonia interrogationis, question mark, Question Mark butterfly, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on October 22, 2019 at 8:55 am | Reply shoreacres

I think I might have seen one of these, but I didn’t have a name to put to it. The dead-leaf description certainly is on point — and what an obliging creature, to offer you a both-sides-now view.
- on October 22, 2019 at 9:07 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  There is a very similar looking butterfly called the Eastern Comma that has slightly different markings on the wings. During other times of the year I tend to see them perched on the side of the trees and they blend in pretty well with tree bark.
on October 22, 2019 at 9:06 am | Reply Dan Antion

It does look like it decorated for autumn. Great shots, Mike.
- on October 22, 2019 at 9:08 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. The colors are definitely seasonal, very much in an earth color palette.
on October 22, 2019 at 5:30 pm | Reply M.B. Henry

Ooooh lovely! 🙂
- on October 23, 2019 at 9:35 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I love butterflies almost as much as I love dragonflies. 🙂
  - on October 23, 2019 at 1:17 pm M.B. Henry
    
    I love butterflies too! 🙂
on October 22, 2019 at 11:41 pm | Reply Jill Kuhn

Wow! Its wings really do camouflage it!! 😊
on October 23, 2019 at 9:12 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! It certainly blends in to the background with the wings up!