Big Canyon, Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, CA. 1/11/06. © Peter J. Bryant.

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Nymphalis antiopa antiopa

Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae

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San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh, Irvine, Orange County, CA. 7-22-07. © Ron Hemberger

Irvine Regional Park, Orange, Orange County, CA. 6-11-08. © Ron Hemberger

© Robert Gorman

Irvine Regional Park, Orange, Orange County, CA. 7-11-10. © Ron Hemberger

San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh, Irvine, Orange County, CA. 6-16-08. © Ron Hemberger

Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, Orange County, CA. 5-1-09. © Ron Hemberger

Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, Orange County, CA. 5-1-09. © Ron Hemberger

Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, Orange County, CA. 5-1-09. © Ron Hemberger

Mating pair. Environmental Nature Center Butterfly House, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-8-13. © Ron Hemberger.
 

Characteristics: Medium-large butterfly, brown-black on dorsal surface with wide yellow borders. A row of blue spots occurs adjacent to the yellow border.

Similar species: None

Habitats, Behavior: The behavior of this species is most interesting. The males, like those of many other butterfly species, exhibit "territoriality". When disturbed, the butterfly will fly away, returning in a minute or two to the same vicinity. Mourningcloak adults will usually perch on a high object, and I have often induced them to land on my hand by holding my arm up so that it is the highest object in the immediate vicinity conducive for perching. Some may jump to the conclusion that this indicates intelligence or a friendliness towards people, but more likely it is just an instinctive attraction to high solitary objects suitable for perching.

Distribution: One of our most common butterflies. The species is common to abundant in the suburbs. In the canyons it is usually limited to areas where willow trees (a larval foodplant) grow. The Mourningcloak may be sighted in most of the moist canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains.

Flight Period: The Mourningcloak can be seen during every month of the year. The species is multiple brooded and over winters in the adult stage.

Larval Foodplants: Willows (Salix spp. ), and poplars are commonly utilized. In the suburbs the larvae may become pests on Chinese elm (Ulmus sp.).

Other Remarks: Although common throughout much of North America, this butterfly is rare and much desired in England. It is known there by the common name of the Camberwell Beauty, and only occurs as a stray from mainland Europe.

The common name of this species has been spelled in a variety of ways-- "Morning Cloak", "Mourning Cloak" and "Morningcloak". The approved standardized common name (established by the Entomological Society of America) is none of these, but rather "Mourningcloak".
Life cycle: © Peter J. Bryant.

Female laying eggs.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 8/23/87

Female laying eggs.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 8/23/87

Eggs on twig (pale when freshly laid).
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 7/17/87


Close-up of eggs.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 09/83

 


Eggs on leaf (redder because further developed). Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1990.

Newly hatched (first-instar) caterpillars.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 9/2/85

Newly hatched (first-instar) caterpillars.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 9/2/85


Second-stage caterpillars.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 09/85


Full-grown caterpillars.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1986

Full-grown caterpillar

Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA. 10-4-08. © Ron Hemberger

Prepupa.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1987

Pupa with molted larval cuticle (above).
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 04/83

Adult emerging.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1988

Adult emerging.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1988

Adult emerging.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1988

Adult emerged, wings stretched.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1999

Adult emerged, wings stretched.
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 1999