Like other species in the order of
Lepidoptera, the question mark is a
holometabolous insect that undergoes four life stages. These four life stages are
embryo (egg),
larva (in this case,
caterpillar),
pupa (chrysalis), and
imago (or adult/butterfly).
Eggs After the male has found the female perching on a tree or in the grass, courting ensues, after which the mating of the two occurs. Females lay eggs singly or stacked under leaves of plants that are usually not the hosts. The young hatchlings must then find their food source to survive.
Larvae Larvae of the question mark butterfly, like all lepidopteran larvae, mature through a series of stages called
instars. Near the end of each instar, the larva undergoes a process called
apolysis, in which the
cuticle, a tough outer layer made of a mixture of
chitin and specialized proteins, is released from the softer
epidermis beneath, and the epidermis begins to form a new cuticle beneath. At the end of each instar, the larva
moults the old cuticle, and the new cuticle expands, before rapidly hardening and developing pigment. Development of butterfly wing patterns begins by the last larval instar.
Larvae host plants Unlike some caterpillars, larvae of this butterfly feed on a variety of
host plants.
American elm (
Ulmus americanus),
red elm (
Ulmus rubra),
hackberry (
Celtis),
Japanese hop (
Humulus japonicus),
nettles (
Urtica), and
false nettle (
Boehmeria cylindrica) are the main ones listed. They may also feed on
clearweed (
Pilea pumila).
Pupae Once the larvae have undergone their last instar, the caterpillars pupate in a chrysalis. Unlike many moths, which build cocoons to pupate in, the majority of butterfly pupae are "naked", meaning without the protection of the earth or a cocoon to protect them. After it has reached the end of its last instar, it sheds its skin (molting or apolysis), becoming a soft fleshy pupae, wherein upon close observation many parts of the future butterfly can be seen prior to the new skin hardening. As it hardens, the pupa takes on colors of its surroundings, providing it with excellent camouflage. After many days to a couple of weeks the butterfly emerges, usually in the morning or afternoon hours.
Adults As an adult butterfly, the question mark seeks out rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, or
carrion as food sources. Only when these are unavailable do question marks visit flowers for nectar. This dietary adaptation is especially beneficial to the late spring / overwintering / early spring brood when nectar sources may be limited.
Recorded locations This species has been found in southern Canada and all of the eastern United States except peninsular Florida, west to the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, south to southern Arizona and Mexico. ==Gallery==