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Mourning Cloak – Spiny Elm Caterpillar – Nympalls antipa

Written by Amisha on .

Mourning Cloak– Nymphalis antiopa Common Name: Mourning Cloak or Camberwell Beauty butterfly; Spiny Elm Caterpillar Latin Name: Nymphalis antiopa Appearance: The Mourning Cloak butterfly has dark brown wings with a creamy yellow border and blue spots. The caterpillar of Spiny Elm Caterpillar has a spiny, black body with red or orange areas.
  • Egg:The eggs of the Mourning Cloak butterfly are small, pale yellow, and laid in groups on twigs and branches of host plants.
  • Pupae:The pupae of the Mourning Cloak butterfly are brown, with a rough surface, and are typically found attached to branches or other objects near the ground.
  • Larva:The Spiny Elm Caterpillar has a black spiny body with red or orange spots, and it can grow up to 2 inches long.
  • Adults:The Mourning Cloak butterfly has a 2.5 to 4 inches wingspan and is brown with a cream-colored border and blue spots.
Host plants: The Spiny Elm Caterpillar feeds on the leaves of elm trees, while the Mourning Cloak butterfly feeds on tree sap, rotting fruit, and occasionally nectar from flowers. Territory: The Mourning Cloak butterfly and the Spiny Elm Caterpillar are found throughout much of North America. Damages caused by The Mourning Cloak: The Spiny Elm Caterpillar can cause defoliation of elm trees, weakening the tree and making it more susceptible to other pests and diseases. Life history and Habits: The Mourning Cloak butterfly overwinters as an adult butterfly, emerging in the spring to mate and lay eggs on host plants. The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which feed on the leaves of elm trees. The Spiny Elm Caterpillar goes through several instars before pupating in a cocoon. The Mourning Cloak butterfly does not form a cocoon but pupates on a branch or other object. After pupation, the butterfly and the caterpillar emerge as adults to continue the cycle. The Mourning Cloak butterfly is one of the first butterflies to appear in the spring, and it is one of the longest-lived, with a lifespan of up to 10 months.