As you are out hiking during the winter, take your time. Look around, notice things. There is so much to see, even in the dead of winter. If you’re fortunate you may see a Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) on the trail in that patch of sunshine ahead of you, warming itself. They overwinter as adults. In crevices in trees, under loose bark, in a woodpile. Living as long as 10 or 11 months, one of the longest living butterflies.
Butterflies in winter. Incredible.
6 responses to “Mourning Cloak”
I don’t know her/him!
Judie,
They’re out there. Watch for them.
Happy Gotcha Day Luna! 😊
Hugs!
Bren
they do overwinter as adult and a joy in the earliest and latest Spring months… this is a great picture and thanks for bringing this charismatic lepidopteran to our attention, as always your presentations provide the answers before most can formulate the questions and this beautiful picture is no exception “So, it Mid March and that’s a Mourning Cloak Butterfly, one our few over wintering ones”
Hi Ken!
Such a treat to have butterflies in winter!
Thanks for reading my blogs.
Bren
Very interesting. Freezing weather is not a problem? I will be on the lookout.
Hi Barry,
I certainly think it is amazing how they do this. They have glycerols in their blood stream which prevents ice from forming in their body. Makes me think of frogs and how they can survive mighty cold temperatures but in their case they make use of glucose which serves a similar function.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Bren