Type and press “enter” to search
Nymphalis antiopa
©Estormiz
Seemingly grieving the loss of a loved one, the name of the Mourning Cloak comes from the darker and more somber colours it wears compared to its many brightly coloured relatives.
Habitat
Mourning Cloaks can be found in much of the northern parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Look for them in a variety of habitats, including hardwood forests, mountainous areas, and wetlands.
Food
As caterpillars, Mourning Cloaks feed on the leaves of willows, elms, poplars, and birch trees, as well as hackberry, hawthorn, and wild rose shrubs. Sap, ripe and fallen fruits, and sugary secretions from aphids, are all foods of adult Mourning Cloaks.
Behaviour
Mourning Cloaks go through metamorphosis. They start as an egg, hatch into a caterpillar, morph into a pupa also called chrysalis, then finally emerge as an adult butterfly. Eggs are laid on food plants so that caterpillars can begin feeding right away. Eventually the chrysalis will be built and hung from grass stems. Adults feed throughout the warm months and then hibernate during winter. Lifespan is 11 to 12 months. Camouflage is their main tool to avoid predators.
Conservation
Abundant, the Mourning Cloak is of low conservation concern.
