Nymphalis antiopa, commonly known as the “mourning cloak butterfly” are a deep red butterfly with a cream white border and elongated blue ovals along the edge of their wings. They are native to three continents including North America, Europe and Asia; and can be found as far north as the arctic tundra. As adults, they are most commonly found in open fields, gardens, shorelines and forests, and as caterpillars you’re likely to find them on paper birch trees, willow thickets and trembling aspen.

The mourning cloak is an interesting species of butterfly as it spends its winter sheltered in the cold opposed to migrating south. Each spring the adult butterflies find mates, and around midsummer young butterflies are out and about. By the time summer is over this year’s young are adults and they will start to build up food reserves to get ready for this winter’s hibernation. However, this may not be the only time they hibernate as some adult butterflies go into a state of rest similar to hibernation called “aestivation” during parts of the summer. The mourning cloak butterfly has a relatively long life span with the average being 10-11 months and with the longest being 13 months.

These butterflies are widespread and can be found during the same period of time (April-November) every year with little to no fluctuation in population.  These butterflies are one of the most common ones in northern climates and show no signs of extinction any time soon.

Write up by Kirsten Marr.