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.

A mourning cloak butterfly perched on a tree branch.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Nymphalidae

Genus: Nymphalis

Species: Nymphalis antiopa

Description

Adults: Adult mourning cloaks have a wing 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 before hatching.

Larvae: Full-grown mourning cloak larvae are approximately 2.0 inches in length. The head is black with some white hair. 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 [1].

A mourning cloak pupae.

Mourning cloak eggs laid on a stem.

Life Cycle

Every year, there is a single generation 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 the 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 [1].

Range, Habitat, and Diet

The mourning cloak is found throughout North America from Canada to southern South America. It is rare in the Gulf states and 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 sap and rotting fruit. It may also consume nectar from flowers [2].

A mourning cloak butterfly perched on vegetation.

Migration

Mourning cloak butterflies are seen throughout the year because they do not engage in long-distance migration. Instead of migrating, mourning cloak butterflies overwinter. They choose one location where they will hibernate during the winter. Typical locations of overwintering include tree cavities and underneath loose tree bark. Overwintering allows mourning cloaks to begin mating in the spring. This is why they are seen early in spring [3].

Mating

Mourning cloak butterflies display polygynous mating behavior. This is where an individual male will mate with multiple females throughout the mating season. Males will use a display site to attract females or fly around searching for females. The male will also defend desirable areas, or areas that offer an increased probability of finding females. The more desirable territories will increase the males' chances of reproductive success. Locations of choice include sunny perches near ravines, wood margins, parks, gardens, lakes, ponds, and around stream edges where males can perch for multiple days [3].

Spring marks the beginning of the mourning cloak mating season. Female mourning cloaks will find a host plant, usually a tree in the Salicaceae family, and lay their eggs [4].

References

[1] Hall, Donald W, and Jerry F Butler. “Mourning Cloak Butterfly.” Mourning Cloak - Nymphalis Antiopa (Linnaeus), https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN821 Accessed 10 May 2023.

[2] “Mourning Cloak - Nymphalis Antiopa: Wildlife Journal Junior - Wildlife Journal Junior.” New Hampshire PBS, https://nhpbs.org/wild/mourningcloak.asp Accessed 10 May 2023.

[3] “Mourning Cloak (NPS Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Butterflies and Moths) · INATURALIST.” iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/365828#:~:text=The%20mourning%20cloak%20butterfly%20is,with%20ragged%20pale%2Dyellow%20edges.

[4] “Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis Antiopa).” Vermont Atlas of Life, https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vermont-butterfly-atlas/mourning-cloak/ Accessed 10 May 2023.