The Mourning Cloak butterfly is commonly seen throughout the United States and much of Canada. When the wings are open, both males and females display a deep maroon or occasionally brown color with irregular, pale yellow borders. A bold black band separates the inner maroon area from the yellow edge and is accented with a row of striking, iridescent blue spots. These contrasting patterns make the Mourning Cloak one of the most recognizable and admired butterflies in North America.

 

“Mourning Cloak” by Tom Benson, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Mourning Cloak Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Nymphalinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 2 1/4 – 4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Because Mourning Cloaks roam and migrate, they are found almost anywhere that host plants occur, including woods, openings, parks, and suburbs, especially in riparian areas.

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Aspen (Populus spp.)

• Birch (Betula spp.)

• Cottonwood (Populus spp.)

• Elm (Ulmus spp.)

• Hackberry (Celtis spp.)

• Willow (Salix spp.)

 

🌸 feeding behavior

Adult Mourning Cloaks primarily feed on:

• Dung

• Moisture from damp surfaces

• Rotting fruit

• Sap flows

Their preference for sap, rotting fruit, and dung is due to their shaded woodland habitats, where flowers are less abundant.