Mourning Cloak

The long-lived Mourning Cloak is a beauty in any landscape. Some live as long as 10 months, overwintering in protected areas of bark, logs, or crevices in buildings. Because Mourning Cloaks roam and migrate, they are found almost anywhere that host plants occur including woods, openings, parks, and suburbs; and especially in riparian areas. Mourning Cloaks become active when temperatures reach about 60 degrees, and thus are often the first butterflies seen in spring.

Photo credit: John Blair

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  • Alder (Alnus spp)

    Ash (Fraxinus spp)

    Basswood (Tilia spp)

    Elm (Ulmus spp)

    Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

    Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)

    Maple (Acer spp)

    Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp)

    Birch (Betula spp)

    • Bog birch (Betula pumila)

    • Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)

    • Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

    • Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis)

    Populus spp

    • Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera subsp. balsamifera)

    • Bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata)

    • Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

    • Swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla)

    Willow (Salix spp)

  • None that I am aware of

  • Prefer dung, rotting fruit, and tree sap

    Cherry Blossoms, Coneflower, Dogbane, Goldenrod, Milkweed, New Jersey Tea, Pussy Willow Flowers

  • Andromeda Bush, Brazilian Verbena, Butterfly Bush (make sure you use a sterile variety), Lantana, Lilac, Shasta Daisy

  • March-October. 1-2 broods each year, the eggs are laid in clusters and the small caterpillars stay together. Adults overwinter in tree crevices, hollow logs, and other sheltered spots.

  • Butterflies and Moths of North America. Butterfliesandmoths.org

    Brenda Dziedzic, Raising Butterflies in the Garden

    Heather Holm, Pollinators of Native Plants

    National Wildlife Federation. Nwf.org

    Xerces Society. Xerces.org