Mourning Cloak Butterfly Field guide
This striking dark-colored butterfly is instantly recognizable. The Mourning Cloak's dark wings are bordered by bright blue spots and edged with gold trim. But all this excitement is on the topside of the wings. The underside looks like gray and brown bark which serves as camouflage and hides it from predators as it sips nectar. It will make a clicking sound when it is approached.
Common name: Mourning Cloak Scientific name: Nymphalis antiopa Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Range: Ranges over almost all of North America south to Northern South America, where there is moisture (moist climate, rain, etc.), except in high arctic and subtropical regions. Habitat: Mourning Cloaks frequent sunny fields and open areas,gardens, open woodlands and along waterways. Egg: Eggs are white, ridged oval eggs laid in clusters on a leaf or twig. The pale egg becomes black before hatching. Up to 250 eggs are laid around a host plant's twigs. Broods: There is usually one brood per breeding season. But, this can vary depending on longitude and latitude. Host plant(s): Host plants include broad leaf deciduous plants such as willow, elms, hackberry, cottonwood and poplars. Caterpillar/Larva: The larva is velvety black with white speckles and spines, in ridges, along its back. Chrysalis: The chrysalis is up to 7/8 inches long (17.78 centimeters) long. It is tan to dark gray with "two head horns", and a "beak". Several thorns-like projections are along the edge. It hangs upside down from a pad. Adult: Adult food consists meadow flowers, animal dung and rotting fruit. The adult emerges as early as late March and feeds on tree sap of sugar maples and oaks since few flowers are blooming. The adult may estivate (hibernate) during summer hot spells. Life span: This dark colored butterfly may live up to eleven months. and maybe the longest-lived butterfly in North America. Flight pattern: This butterfly flies most commonly in spring, late summer and early autumn. Wingspan: 2 1/4 inches ( 5.08 centimeters) to 3 3/8 inches ( 7.62centimeters) across. Wing edges are ragged and are often closed over body while at rest. Winter: Hibernates as a adult in loose pieces of bark or in hollow trees. The adult often emerges on warm winter days. More Butterfly Information Butterfly Life Cycle egg larva chrysalis adult Where to find them The most common butterfly species Seven butterfly families Spring butterflies Attracting Butterflies Top nectar plants Top host plants Field Guides Black Butterflies Mourning Cloak Butterfly Swallowtail Butterflies From Mourning Cloak Butterfly Return to Butterflies
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