The adults are dormant in winter, and then re-emerge, wings imperfect and worn, during the … The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar. All of this provides good camouflage in a variety of situations. Another good way to tell the difference between male and female butterflies is by behavior. Females tend to have rounder abdomens. See also Anglewing butterflies. The wing margins are not smooth, but jagged. The mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is one of the first butterflies to re-emerge in North Carolina.This species is the longest lived in the United States, surviving up to 11 months. The undersides of both sets of wings are a dark, rough-appearing brown, edged with light tan. The final and definitive way is to examine the abdomen. Mourning Cloak : excellent camouflage . The reason the outer edges of its wings are frayed already is because it has been hanging out in Ohio all winter… well, not exactly hanging out. Other older names for this species include Grand Surprise and White Petticoat. I looked into the symbolism of the Mourning Cloak butterfly. Adult Food: Mourning Cloaks prefer tree sap, especially that of oaks. The adults live solitary and, as such, migrate singly rather than in the swarms associated with other migrant species. For example, in species of Blues, the male's dorsal wing color is often bright blue, whereas that of females has lots of brown. Other Remarks: Although common throughout much of North America, this butterfly is rare and much desired in England. Other older names for this species include Grand Surprise and White Petticoat. The upper side of the female is more of an orange-brown with wider black borders than the male. They can even be found in temperate regions of Europe. The butterfly enters hibernation in both the summer and winter. The Mourning Cloak Butterfly is a member of the Brush-Footed Butterflies or Nymphalidae family. Mourning Cloak Butterfly Coloration, Characteristics and Size The long-lived Mourning Cloak ( Nymphalis antiopa ) is a beauty in any landscape. After a brief aerial courtship the pair will mate. In the United Kingdom … They are one of the most widely spread butterflies in North America.....found throughout the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Mexico. In forested habitats, males will perch in sunny gladesand wait for females to flutter by. After emerging as a butterfly, the mourning cloak will feed briefly before finding a sheltered spot to estivate until autumn. In northern areas where it overwinters, adults may be seen basking in the sun during almost every month of winter on warm days. Males and females look basically the same. The mourning cloak, Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus), is a large distinctive butterfly and is one of our most widely distributed butterfly species. The upper surfaces of the wings are very beautiful, but at rest with the wings closed, the mourning cloak is highly cryptic. It is known there by the common name of the Camberwell Beauty, and only occurs as a stray from mainland Europe. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar. It was a special thing to share with her and I feel that in those moments watching the butterfly emerge transformed and through the words spoken by my Mom, I learned about the deepest meaning of Easter. Even though the mourning cloak butterfly is one of the longest living butterflies at 10 to 11 months, it doesn’t flutter around the whole time. Range: Mourning Cloaks can be found all over North America, though they are rare on the gulf coast. ''Nymphalis antiopa'', known as the Mourning Cloak in North America and the Camberwell Beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. Migrant insects arrive in Great Britain most years during summer and autumn, but numbers are usually very low. This is a large and distinctive butterfly, even in flight, as the white wing borders are unmistakable. They are one of the most widely spread butterflies in North America.....found throughout the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Mexico. See these photographs of the Anna's Blue (Plebejus anna). Mourning Cloak Butterfly Metamorphosis. After emerging as a butterfly, the mourning cloak will feed briefly before finding a sheltered spot to estivate until autumn.