Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Incredible Insects! #10 Butterfly
Hi everyone and welcome back to another insects post and another of our butterflies. Today it is the Mourning Cloak. This is one of our largest butterflies with a wingspan of up to 4 inches. It also holds the record for the longest living adult butterfly, at least in north America, and can live up to 11 months.
They hibernate as adult butterflies and emerge in early spring. They are the first of our butterflies to be seen in the spring, often while snow is still on the ground. They get their food from the sap of trees and rotten fruit.
Mourning Cloak
They often can be seen at holes in trees made by sapsuckers. They are probably the darkest of our butterflies, at least in the larger category, but they are still very beautiful. They live all summer but usually estivate in the hottest part of summer, coming back out in the fall.
Mourning Cloak caterpillar.
Estivate is kind of like a summer hibernation period. They have one brood and the caterpillars usually feed on willow leaves, plus aspens and birch. Hope you enjoy the photos, have a great day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
So pretty
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they really are, especially when seen in the sun so their colors really stand out nicely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The amount detail that God included in the bodies of insects is incredible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is so very true! I wish I had started photographing insects a long time ago, i would have had so many more amazing insects in my inventory now. Have a great day and God bless!😊📷🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful insect, Steve!😽
LikeLiked by 1 person
They truly are beautiful Eugi, especially in the sun.😊🦋 Have a great evening! Muffin sends a hug to Callie!😻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Callie send a hug back to Muffin! 😽
LikeLiked by 1 person
😻
LikeLiked by 1 person
😽
LikeLiked by 1 person