Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Nymphalidae   >   Genus Nymphalis   

Status:

One of the surest signs of spring, overwintered adult Mourning Cloaks are among the very first butterflies to become active as temperatures climb in early spring. This hardy butterfly, named because its dark colors are reminiscent of traditional shrouds of mourning, is holarctic is distribution, being found throughout much of northern Europe and Asia, in addition to most of North America. This butterfly can be found basking in open woodlands, or attracted to rotten fruit or sap runs on trees.

Relationships:

Will use willows (Salix sp.), aspens (Populus sp.), birches (Betula sp.), American Elm (Ulmus americana), and hackberry (Celtis sp.) as larval hosts. Apparently favors willows.

There are 465 records in the project database.

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Mourning Cloak in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/23/2022). Photo by Lydia Fravel. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/30/2019). Photo by William Blauvelt. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/17/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Howard Co., Maryland (6/7/2020). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/15/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Green Ridge SF, Maryland (4/30/2011). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A Mourning Cloak in Washington Co., Maryland (7/29/2015). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/15/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/19/2019). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Wicomico Co., Maryland (3/30/2013). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/9/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/10/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/12/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/21/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (6/6/2009). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/28/2013). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/13/2015). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Talbot Co., Maryland (3/18/2017). Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Baltimore City, Maryland (3/24/2019). Photo by Scott Young. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/26/2016). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/3/2022). (c) danieltayloroc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by danieltayloroc via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in West Ocean City, Maryland (6/10/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Howard Co., Maryland (7/3/2015). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

A male Mourning Cloak collected in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/17/1987). Collected by Harry Pavulaan. (c) Norbert Kondla, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Norbert Kondla via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Mourning Cloak collected in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/14/1995). Collected by Harry Pavulaan. (c) Norbert Kondla, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Norbert Kondla via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak caterpillar in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/20/2015). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak in Charles Co., Maryland (5/7/2021). (c) Tim Emhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Emhoff via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak caterpillars in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/9/2021). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak caterpillar in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/10/2006). Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak caterpillar in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/25/2019). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak larve in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/26/2015). Verified by John and Jane Balaban/BugGuide. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

Mourning Cloak caterpillar in Harford Co., Maryland (5/18/2021). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/23/2001). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/29/2015). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Mourning Cloak in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/29/2015). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)


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