Wisconsin Native Caterpillars
Question Mark Caterpillar
Genus-Species: Polygonia interrogationis
Description: Gray-black with orange and cream
stripes and spots, as well as several rows of branched spines.
Chrysalis: Mottled gray-brown. Silver spots on
thorax. Two rows of short, sharp projections on abdomen. Resembles are crumpled, dead leaf.
Host Plants: American Elm Red Elm, Hackberry,
Japanese Hop, Nettles and False Nettles.
Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats, including
backyards, parks, and woodland edges, especially along woodland trails.
Comments: The Question Mark is slightly larger than
the other “punctuation” butterflies in Wisconsin, but otherwise very similar. This is a very well
known butterfly, found throughout Wisconsin, but is fairly uncommon.
Find instructions on how to design a butterfly-friendly habitat including a catalog of favorite flowers
guaranteed to attract butterflies.
Take this quick quiz and see how much you know about caterpillars. This quiz is intended for fun, in
a random-facts-can-be-cool kind of way.
How does this magic happen? Learn about metamorphosis - the process of transformation from an
immature form to an adult bitterfly.