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| Caterpillar |
Pupa |
Butterfly |
This large (wingspan: 45 to 79 mm), familiar butterfly, has a unique pattern. The ground colour of the upper surface is a rich maroon or purple brown. There is a bright yellow band along the irregular wing edges bordered by a row of bright, iridescent blue spots on the inside. The underside is a dark brown with wavy thin black lines. There is a definite gradient of size from large in the south to small in the north.
Abundance: This well-known butterfly is widespread, not fluctuating much from year to year, but is rarely seen in large numbers.
Flight Season: The Mourning Cloak is double-brooded, with a summer brood flying in June and July and a second brood emerging in August, flying until late October, then overwintering and flying again in April (mid-March in southern Ontario) and May. The broods overlap and it has been recorded in the Ottawa area every week from late March to early November. It can sometimes be seen on sunny winter days in the south, flying over the snow.
Habits: This species, because of its wide range of foodplant preferences, can show up in just about any habitat, including city parks and gardens. It is often seen patrolling damp areas along woodland roads. It flies with a characteristic flap-glide motion.