Mourning Cloak Butterfly

The mourning cloak, Nymphalis antiopa, is a large butterfly and one of the most widely distributed butterfly species. It is known as the mourning cloak in North America and the Camberwell beauty in Britain. The name mourning cloak was coined as the butterfly resembles an archaic, traditional cloak worn when someone was in mourning. In northern areas where it overwinters, adults may be seen basking in the sun on warm days. Mourning cloaks are often referred to as the “Harbingers of Spring” as they are some of the first creatures seen in spring.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Nymphalidae

Genus: Nymphalis

Species: Nymphalis antiopa

Description

Adults: Adult mourning cloaks have a wind span of approximately 3.0 inches. The upper surface of the wings is a deep maroon color with a black band containing a series of powder blue spots and a yellow marginal band. The ventral side of the wings is black, resembling charred wood with a marginal whitish-yellow band.

Eggs: Mourning cloak eggs are whitish but darken prior to hatching.

Larvae: Full grown mourning cloak larvae are approximately 2.0 inches in length. The head is black with white hairs. The body is black and covered in small white dots and numerous white hairs. Most segments have a mid-dorsal reddish-orange patch.

Pupae: Pupae are approximately 0.8 inches in length. They are gray with two rows of ventro-lateral, red-tipped, sharp points. The pupae hang vertically and are attached by the terminal end of a small silk pad.

Life Cycle

Every year, there is a single generation per year in most areas and possibly a second generation southward. Unmated adults overwinter and mate and lay eggs in the spring. The adults are long-lived and live for almost a year. Males perch and defend territories and fly out to meet potential mates. Adults are known for their graceful gliding behavior, and may feign death if attacked by predators.

Eggs are laid in large clusters in a single layer around stems of host plants. The larvae are sociable throughout their lives and feed within silken webs. When threatened, larvae twitch in unison as a defensive tactic to deter predators. Caterpillars mature in early summer and adults undergo summer dormancy.

Range, Diet, and Habitat

The mourning cloak is found throughout North America from Canada to southern South America. It is rare in the Gulf states and in Florida. Mourning cloaks are commonly found in sunny glades, forest borders, parks, gardens, open woodlands, streams, lakes, ponds, and groves. The caterpillar of the mourning cloak feeds in groups on the leaves of deciduous trees. The willow, elm, hackberry, aspen, cottonwood, poplar, rose, birch, hawthorne, and mulberry are common feeding trees. The adult butterfly feeds on tree spa and rotting fruit. It may also consume nectar from flowers.