Where’s Wildlife · Butterfly Field Guide
Nymphalis antiopa
Pronounced (approx.): nim-FAL-is an-tee-OH-puh
Dark wings edged in pale yellow and blue spots make this early-spring butterfly easy to recognize.
Select the photograph to browse all seven field photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Open wings: Look for a broad pale border around dark reddish-brown wings, with blue spots just inside the border. [1]
Closed wings: The mottled underside blends with bark; the pale edge remains visible. [1]
Caterpillar: Black with white speckles, red-orange spots down the back, and branching black spines. It is also called the spiny elm caterpillar. [1] [2]
Compare adult wing patterns and caterpillar markings. Select any photograph to browse the full gallery.
Mourning Cloaks survive winter as adult butterflies, sheltered beneath bark or in crevices. Warm late-winter or early-spring weather may bring them out while snow is still present. [1]
New adults may rest through the heat of summer, then feed again in fall before winter dormancy. Adults can live about 10–11 months; that figure describes adult longevity, not the time from egg to butterfly. [2]
Mourning Cloaks occur across much of North America and temperate Eurasia. [2]
Explore reported sightings below. Observation records are not a complete range map.
[1] University of Minnesota — Mourning Cloak
Jim Walker’s account of adult and caterpillar identification, feeding, and winter shelter.
[2] Illinois Extension — The Mourning Cloak
Christopher Enroth’s guide to host trees, life cycle, seasonal activity, and adult lifespan.