Critter: Question mark butterfly
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My name is: Question Mark butterfly, aka Polygonia interrogationis.
At first glance: You may notice a torn look to the edges of my wings. My brown, black and white coloring serves as excellent camouflage while I perch on tree trunks.
How I got my name: From the silver question mark on the underside of my hind wings.
Look for me: Widespread throughout the Eastern United States, a small number of us thrive in the Southwest. We may be few in number, but you will have no trouble identifying us or recalling our name once you locate the question mark.
Sun worshipper: The most likely place to find me will be during your afternoon walk along the edge of a forest. Males like to find a sunlit spot to set up their territory, fluttering and flying around to ward off intruders and catch the last of the sun's rays.
On the menu: Sap, rotten fruit, excrement and damp soil.
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