Fallbrook, CA – The Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa, is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world, spreading from Alaska to Venezuela, and all throughout Europe and Asia. The adult butterfly’s wingspan reaches about 3 inches with a very unique color scheme on the wings. The outside of the butterfly’s wings are black, resembling charred wood, with a white marginal band. The inside of the wings are majorly a deep maroonish brown color, with a black band down the center that contains blue spots, and a marginal yellow band.
The host plants for the Mourning Cloak caterpillar include the willow, elm, and hackberry tree families. Some common host plants include black willow (Salix nigra), weeping willow (S. babylonica), silky willow (S. sericea), American elm (Ulmus americana), cottonwood (Populus deltoides), aspen (P. tremuloides), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), and hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). However, the Red Willow is the perfect host plant that is native to our area. The caterpillars, often referenced as the Spiny Elm Caterpillar will only host on and eat these tree species. The adult butterflies will often eat the sap from these species too.
The Mourning Cloaks’ egg is white, but will darken prior to hatching. The caterpillar larva is about 2 inches in length when fully grown. It has a black head with small white hairs. In addition, the body is black with small white dots covering the entirety of the body. The caterpillar has stout spikes on its body, as well as multiple orangish dots on each segment of its body. The pupae are tanish, resembling a dried leaf with multiple spikes and red tipped ends.
Mourning Cloak adults mate and lay eggs in the Spring. Eggs are laid in large clusters in a single line around the stem of its host plant. Upon hatching, caterpillars live and feed in a communal silky web until time for pupation. After going into the pupa stage, the caterpillars emerge in late June or July. The adult butterfly will feed for a short period of time before entering a period of dormancy until fall. After emerging from their dormant stage, the butterflies will feed and prepare themselves for migration during the winter months.
The Mourning Cloak butterflies often migrate long distances, however it is not due to seasons changing. Rather, they “overwinter” or go into a stage of dormancy where they tuck themselves into nooks of trees or bark where they will be safe from the winter elements. Once the seasons have passed, they will re-emerge and begin to mate in the spring.
To learn more about how you can help promote an increase in the Mourning Cloak species, please visit www.wingsofchange.us or contact the Wings of Change at 760-908-7454. We have seeds, merchandise, and monthly seminars available to all interested!