Question Mark Butterfly At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

I’ve been meaning to share this Question Mark butterfly I photographed at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge since last month. Today is as good a day as any.

Adult Question Mark butterfly – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/1250, ISO 800, -1.0 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light

I was actually hoping to see and photograph more Question Mark butterflies before cold weather set in, so I could share more photos of this spectacular species. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any more this fall.

For now, I have only this one photo in my Question Mark Butterfly Images gallery. Hopefully, that will change next year.

I believe the butterfly was resting on a hackberry bush; at least, that’s what the leaves of the bush look like to me.

The gender of this Question Mark butterfly will remain a mystery because this species does not exhibit clear sexual dimorphism. Male and female butterflies of this species look quite similar, making them challenging to distinguish based solely on appearance.

There are some behavioral indicators for gender, but this butterfly simply stayed put, wasn’t laying eggs, and wasn’t acting territorial.

Their name comes from a small white “question mark” on the underside of their hindwings.

This stunning Question Mark butterfly caught my eye while I was walking down one of the many side roads at the refuge. Although the area was dimly lit due to nearby trees and clouds overhead, the butterfly glowed like a beacon.

I’ll be looking for these butterflies for a few more weeks, then continue searching for them once spring arrives next year. As brightly colored as they are, Question Mark butterflies seem challenging to find. The good news is that I can train my eyes to spot them.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my insect and spider photos plus facts and information about them.

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