Punctuation Butterflies

Question Mark Butterfly - James Steakley                                   Eastern Comma Butterfly - Aaron Carlson

Since it is technically spring, the weather is beginning to warm, flowers are starting to bloom, and I’m starting to see butterflies again.

The other day, I saw an orangish butterfly with black markings and scalloped edges. I was so excited because I knew it was a punctuation butterfly! I had never seen one before but had seen photos in my guide books. The trouble was, I saw it so briefly, I wasn’t able to get a good enough look to determine whether it was a Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) or an Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma).

The range of both butterflies includes Kansas. The Question Mark’s range is a little larger, extending further north into Canda, further west to Arizona, and further south into Mexico than that of the Comma. Both also over-winter in Kansas, although the Comma has a smaller Kansas range.

Both are about the same size, the Question Mark is slightly larger at 2 – 2.5 inches, whereas the Comma is 1.6 – 2.3 inches. The one I saw could fit in this range. They are both orange with black spots, the Question Mark being a little more red and the Comma being a little more brown. I felt like the one I saw was more reddish, but I think I still need more data.

Commas tend to prefer wet habitats such as marshes as well as deciduous forests. Question Marks also like forests, but are also found in suburbs, agricultural areas, and city parks. I saw this one at the Zoo.

Finally, let’s examine their diets. Comma host plants include nettles and hop vines, which I don’t think we have at the zoo, at least this time of year. The Question Mark lays eggs in elm trees, which we likely have. Adult Commas eat tree sap and rotting fruit, which we might have around as left over animal diets. Adult Question Marks also eat tree sap and rotting fruit, but, and I think this is the clincher, they also eat dung! I know we have plenty of that around the Zoo!
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Based on the evidence at hand, I would have to surmise that the butterfly I saw was the Question Mark, but, considering it’s name, I may always be a little bit unsure.