Mourning Cloaks and Anglewings

Often the first butterfly seen each year in the Northwest, the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) overwinters as an adult and therefore comes out of hiding on warm days in late winter and early spring.  Adult Mourning Cloaks, or Camberwell Beauties as they are known in Europe, seek out sheltered spots in late summer under loose bark and in wood piles and old buildings.  When they emerge the following year, they seek out willow trees and lay masses of eggs on the leaves and in rings around small branches.  The larvae are black with many harmless spikes and a row of red spots down their back and are very easy to rear.  If you find the caterpillars, put them in a roomy cage supplied with fresh willow leaves every day or two.  Mature larvae are about two inches long, and will stop feeding and crawl around the cage looking for a spot to pupate.  The adult will emerge from the chrysalis a little over a week later.

Mourning Cloaks, like other Nymphalis spp., often have very noticeable crash-and-boom populations.  I remember frequently seeing Mourning Cloaks all over Kittitas County 12-15 years ago, and finding the caterpillars on the willows at home and at the local fishing pond.  For the past ten years I've rarely seen any until 2010, when they started popping up in twos and threes in various locations around the county.  They seem to be steadily increasing, and judging by the numerous sightings reported all over the state so far this year, it is looking like this will be another good year.  Check out the Butterflies of America photos of Mourning Cloak Immatures to see what the eggs, larvae, and pupae look like.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (dorsal side)

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (ventral side)

Adults that have overwintered may be up 6-9 months old, resulting in faded colors and tattered wings, seen here.

Another slightly faded individual, here the wing edge blends in with the very white rocks on a road in the Sinlahekin.

Mourning Cloaks like to feed on sap, carrion and scat, a good habit to have when you emerge too early for flowers!

Green Anglewing Polygonia faunus, here one is sneaking up for a sip of what the Mourning Cloak is having.

Satyr Anglewing Polygonia satyrus, another species that overwinters as an adult.

This photo was taken in June, but is also of a Satyr Anglewing and shows how opportunistic they are... it is sipping a remnant of mineral-laden water on the weatherstripping of my car door!