Nature shows us amazing animal-made art, reminding us of its fierce beauty.
Its artworks should be left undisturbed to preserve nature’s creative process.
The Mourning Cloak butterfly isn’t sad despite its name. It’s a long-lived North American species, usually living a year. Named for its velvety dark wings like sad people’s cloaks, it has iridescent blue spots and a yellow band on its wings. Folded, they resemble burned bark, with a dull white band underneath.
It belongs to the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae), with short, brush-like front legs.
Unlike cousins, Mourning Cloaks don’t like flower nectar. They prefer sap, fruit, or bug secretions.
Biochemical power
Adults winter in warm spots like tree hollows and buildings. They survive -80°F with a glycerol-based natural antifreeze. In heat, they hibernate until fall, then feed and fatten for winter.
A cluster of eggs
It’s among the first spring butterflies, even before flowers bloom. Mating adults lay berry-like eggs on trees or leaves. The egg clusters are geometric, changing from yellow to black before hatching, looking otherworldly.
Many caterpillars arrive
The Mourning Cloak caterpillar is black or dark brown with tiny spines, white/yellow spots, and sometimes reddish-orange ones near head/tail. Voracious eaters, they strip host plants like willows.
Though spiny, they’re feisty. When threatened, grouped caterpillars twitch, making their bodies less appealing to predators.
The spines don’t seriously harm people but can irritate skin. Avoid touching, especially with sensitive skin or allergies.
The caterpillar spins a cocoon to become a butterfly. As new fliers, they help decompose rotten fruit in yards with flower/vegetable gardens.