Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 48,153 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Question Mark: observations by month (U.S.)
About Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis, the question mark, is a North American nymphalid butterfly. It lives in wooded areas, city parks, generally in areas with a combination of trees and open space. The color and textured appearance of the underside of its wings combine to provide camouflage that resembles a dead leaf. The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 4.5–7.6 cm (1.8–3.0 in). Its flight period is from May to September. "The silver mark on the underside of the hindwing is...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Question Mark by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16,019 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 2,924 | July | May–Sep |
| Illinois | 2,780 | July | May–Aug |
| New York | 2,002 | July | May–Aug |
| Virginia | 1,899 | August | Apr–Oct |
| North Carolina | 1,670 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 1,638 | August | May–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 1,414 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,378 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 1,345 | July | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 1,221 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Missouri | 1,180 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Louisiana | 1,110 | April | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 936 | August | May–Sep |
| Indiana | 855 | July | May–Sep |
| Georgia | 828 | May | Mar–May |
| Michigan | 828 | July | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 820 | August | May–Oct |
| Alabama | 797 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 674 | July | May–Aug |
| Kansas | 618 | June | May–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 581 | July | May–Aug |
| South Carolina | 514 | May | Mar–May |
| Florida | 493 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 448 | July | Mar–Oct |
| Minnesota | 421 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 337 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 307 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 277 | July | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 274 | June | May–Jul |
| Maine | 255 | September | Jun–Sep |
| West Virginia | 250 | September | Jun–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 182 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 178 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Delaware | 157 | August | May–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 151 | May | Mar–Jul |
| South Dakota | 98 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 94 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 92 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Arizona | 86 | October | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Utah | 6 | May | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Question Mark?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Question Mark most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Ohio, Illinois.