Fauna
Insect

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa

Also known as Camberwell Beauty

Mourning Cloaks are large dark butterflies bordered by a row of blue spots and a pale cream wing edge. Adults overwinter in sheltered places and may appear on mild days earlier than most other butterflies.

butterflyoverwintering adultwoodland edge
Mourning Cloak reference1 / 7
Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAdults use tree sap and decaying organic liquids; caterpillars eat willow, elm, birch, and poplar leaves
Predators
  • birds
  • spiders
  • predatory insects
ThreatsPesticides, loss of host trees, severe weather, and removal of sheltered overwintering sites
HabitatsWoodlands, stream corridors, parks, and openings near larval host trees
Life spanAdults can live about ten to twelve months, unusually long for a butterfly
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilyNymphalidae
  3. GenusNymphalis
  4. SpeciesNymphalis antiopa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Watch without touching wings or disturbing sheltered overwintering adults.
Responsible observation
  • Look: Check sunny woodland paths and sap flows on mild early-season days.
  • Identify: Note the dark maroon wings, blue spots, and broad pale border.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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Mystic Meadows

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