One of North America's longest-lived butterflies — adults can live up to 10 months and overwinter as adults under loose bark. They're among the very first butterflies you'll see in late winter or early spring.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Nymphalis antiopa, known as the mourning cloak in North America and the Camberwell beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar. Other older names for this species include grand surprise and white petticoat. A powerful flier, this species is sometimes found in areas far from its usual range during migration.
Source: Wikipedia — Nymphalis antiopa Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Brilliant velvet-purple wings edged in cream-yellow.
Similar species. No other US butterfly looks similar.
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Adults: tree sap, dung. Caterpillars: willows, birches, elms.
Behavior. Adults emerge in summer, hibernate as adults under bark. Among first butterflies seen each spring.
§ Range
Throughout most of North America from Canada to Mexico
§ Habitat
Forest edges, riparian corridors, parks, woodland openings
§ Threats
Loss of forest edge habitat, clean-up of fall leaf litter (overwinter habitat), pesticide drift.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the mourning cloak is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Leave fall leaves. Maintain mature trees with loose bark. Skip pesticides on willow, elm, hackberry (their host trees).
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Nymphalis antiopa
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Nymphalis antiopa
- iNaturalist · taxon 50306
- IUCN Red List — search for Nymphalis antiopa
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Nymphalis antiopa
§ Sources cited
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- Xerces Society
- BugGuide
- iNaturalist
