Observation date: April 26, 2016
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Female Mourning cloak depositing eggs on willow leaf. late morning, cloudy breeze day not yellow eggs on edge of leaf. leaf is dark not transparent due to coat of eggs on the topside. eggs yellow at first then turn a reddish color as time goes by. casings then turn clear as larva hatch. this butterfly was spending hours on this tree putting eggs on leaves twigs. She would then drop down into bushes near by seeming to rest. then return to the task of depositing more eggs. we planted a very small cutting of willow and poplar cottonwood about a year of two ago, now there are lots of mourning cloaks in the yard most days. Males chase each other and the monarchs once it warms up in the morning, until it cools down in the late after noon. they will stop for nectar then begin the chase anew! Very cheap entertainment and the kids in the area get very excited to see butterflies everywhere, even the adults that are young at heart. For a good example of there life cycle go to Butterflies and moths of orange co. University of Calif. Irvine
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2016
Coordinator notes: None.
