Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Short projections on both wings, borders irregular. Upperside is purple-black with a wide, bright yellow border on outer margins, and a row of iridescent blue spots at the inner edge of the border.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 4 inches (5.7 - 10.1 cm).
Life History: Overwintered adults mate in the spring, the males perching in sunny openings during the afternoon to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid in groups circling twigs of the host plant. Caterpillars live in a communal web and feed together on young leaves, then pupate and emerge as adults in June or July. After feeding briefly, the adults estivate until fall, when they re-emerge to feed and store energy for hibernation. Some adults migrate south in the fall.
Flight: Usually one flight from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Willows including black willow (Salix nigra), weeping willow (S. babylonica), and silky willow (S. sericea); also American elm (Ulmus americana), cottonwood (Populus deltoides), aspen (P. tremuloides), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), and hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). Older caterpillars wander about and may be found on plants that they do not eat.
Adult Food: Mourning Cloaks prefer tree sap, especially that of oaks. They walk down the trunk to the sap and feed head downward. They will also feed on rotting fruit, and only occasionally on flower nectar.
Habitat: Because Mourning Cloaks roam and migrate, they are found almost anywhere that host plants occur including woods, openings, parks, and suburbs; and especially in riparian areas.
Range: All of North America south of the tundra to central Mexico; rarely in the Gulf States and peninsular Florida. Also native to temperate Eurasia. Comments: Adults live 10-11 months and may be our longest lived butterfly.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Occasionally may be necessary to control caterpillar damage to shade trees.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 8791 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: May 31, 2025
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Hall County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 09, 2025
Observation date: May 27, 2025
Submitted by: gp
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: May 22, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Wiseman
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 19, 2025
Submitted by: Juliet.Koski
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 16, 2025
Observation date: May 13, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2025
Observation date: May 10, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 12, 2025
Observation date: Apr 10, 2025
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 11, 2025
Observation date: May 02, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2025
Observation date: Apr 26, 2025
Submitted by: sherylsr
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 26, 2025
Submitted by: sherylsr
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Mar 18, 2025
Submitted by: Mike L
Region: Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 21, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 22, 2025
Submitted by: pgericks
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 22, 2025
Observation date: Mar 28, 2025
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 19, 2025
Observation date: Apr 17, 2025
Submitted by: jeremy_martin@m...
Region: Allegany County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Apr 11, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 16, 2025
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