Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa)
Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa)
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) is a butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. Migrants arrive in Great Britain during summer and autumn, but the numbers are low. They are easily distinguishable by their special markings that do not match those of any other butterfly. The dorsal side of the wings are maroon or brown with pale-yellow edges. They have bright, iridescent blue spots that line the black demarcation between the maroon and the yellow. As a part of the Nymphalidae family, they have hairy front legs. The Morning Cloak Butterfly is not a significant pollinator, as the primary food source is the sap from deciduous trees rather than flowering plants.
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly has a total wingspan in the range of 2.24”-3.94” (57-100 mm). The body of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly has an overall length between .79”-1.38” (20-35 mm), body width of .22”-.39” (5.5-10 mm), and body height of .14”-.26” (3.5-6.5 mm). The typical lifespan of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly is between 11-12 months.
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) is a butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. Migrants arrive in Great Britain during summer and autumn, but the numbers are low. They are easily distinguishable by their special markings that do not match those of any other butterfly. The dorsal side of the wings are maroon or brown with pale-yellow edges. They have bright, iridescent blue spots that line the black demarcation between the maroon and the yellow. As a part of the Nymphalidae family, they have hairy front legs. The Morning Cloak Butterfly is not a significant pollinator, as the primary food source is the sap from deciduous trees rather than flowering plants.
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly has a total wingspan in the range of 2.24”-3.94” (57-100 mm). The body of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly has an overall length between .79”-1.38” (20-35 mm), body width of .22”-.39” (5.5-10 mm), and body height of .14”-.26” (3.5-6.5 mm). The typical lifespan of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly is between 11-12 months.
