The Question Mark

  Down behind the canebrake, there is one spot that gets direct beams from the sun in the late afternoon.  The trees block most of the ambient light but one shaft of light causes a bright splotch right between the canebrake and a large maple tree.  During my hikes around the marsh edge to the back of the creek, the canopy of trees almost gives the path a tunnel-effect.  That one brilliantly illuminated spot can be seen long before I reach the actual spot.  It was there that I found the Question Marks!

  As far back as the wild persimmon grove, I could see something fluttering in the sunbeams ahead.  It took a few minutes before I could actually identify the orange flutters but, once I did, I was amused at the antics.  There were five Question Mark Butterflies flitting about in the sunshine.  Several would try to "rest" on the dried leaves or downed twigs but they would be immediately "attacked" by the others.  This was a fine show of territorial rights and only the strongest would be allowed the comfort of the sunny, wind-free spot.  The others would have to seek another spot.  The strongest would stay, mate and lay eggs.

  Question Mark Butterfly is a strange name for an insect but it is named as such for a good reason.  While I could not get a photograph of the underside of the insect, it has a definitive sign on its hind wings.  On the underside of its hind wing, there is a pearly white "question mark" in the markings.  Other than that signature mark, the underside of the butterfly is relatively nondescript.  The outer part is beautifully colorful.  Bright orange base color, black dots and white edging on the "sculpted" wings give the tiny butterfly quite the elegant flare!  In the "winter" mode (those early butterflies), the wings show more orange but the "summer mode" ones have a good bit of black on the hind wings.

  The butterflies this evening put on quite the show.  Their territorial behavior was rather amusing as there is plenty of space for all of them.  I am assuming that these all hatched nearby and the adults wish to linger here as there is a ready supply of fruit castoffs for them in the compost pile.  The caterpillars (like most) eat leaves but the adult Question Mark Butterflies prefer to eat the juices from rotting fruit.  Odd meal but, hey, whatever makes them happy.  Just watching the butterflies made me happy so who am I to question their meal of choice?