Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Mourning Cloak,
Nymphalis antiopa

Size: Wingspan is 2 to 2 3/8 inches.

Similar Species:
None

Habitat: Woodlands, roadsides and adjacent open areas.

Abundance: Fairly common in most of the state. Less common in coastal regions

Flight Period: Flies all year as it over winters as an adult. Found only in winter during warming spells.

Comments: Mourning Cloaks are the longest lived butterfly with a life span up to 10 months. They rarely nectar and can be found on tree sap, carrion and rotten fruit. Also they love to hilltop and keep territories which they defend very strongly. May is a good month to find them abundant and fresh. Older Mourning Cloaks loose their fresh look and usually look quite tattered as shown here.

The top photo was taken at the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area in Durham Co., NC on February 22, 2005. The center photo was taken in Caswell Co., NC on June 10, 2003.

The caterpillar at bottom was found in my yard on April 26, 2000 about 8 foot away from a Black Willow, Salix nigra.

Home
Butterflies