Adults can be seen visiting flowers for nectar but they prefer rotting fruit, tree sap, carrion, and dung.
The origin of the genus Polygonia derives from the Greek words poly which means many and gonia which is corners. The origin of the specie interrogationis is currently unknown.
The Question Mark is commonly found in woodlands, floodplains, roadsides, urban areas, parks and mesic forests.
Males perch on trees or leaves waiting for a passing female. After mating the female lays her eggs on the underside of the host leaves either individually or she may stack them.
There are two generations of the Question Mark each year. The summer form can be found flying from May – September. The winter form emerges in August and overwinters as an adult, possibly living until the following May.
The common name comes from the small silver symbol found on the outside of the hind wing which resembles a question mark.
