The Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa), wrapped in a cloak of deep maroon edged with golden trim, is one of the earliest pollinators to grace the landscape each year, sometimes appearing while patches of snow still dapple the ground. Unlike most butterflies that overwinter as chrysalises or eggs, the Mourning Cloak takes a bolder approach—it hibernates as an adult, tucked away in tree crevices, beneath loose bark, or in sheltered nooks. This remarkable strategy allows it to awaken with the first warm spell, often in late winter or very early spring, long before most other butterflies have even begun their metamorphic transformations.
What makes the Mourning Cloak such an early riser? During hibernation, its body undergoes remarkable changes to guard against the formation of deadly ice crystals—producing specialized antifreeze proteins and reducing its water content to prevent freezing damage. By entering this state of suspended animation, it can endure harsh winter conditions until the sun’s warmth reaches just the right level, stirring this resilient butterfly from dormancy. It then flexes its wings to absorb heat before setting off in search of sustenance. Unlike summer butterflies that flit from flower to flower, the Mourning Cloak has a taste for tree sap, particularly from oaks, maples, and willows. It skillfully locates wounds or woodpecker drillings in trees to sip this sugary lifeline, allowing it to thrive even before the first blossoms of the season have opened. By the time early wildflowers, like willow catkins and dandelions, make their debut, the Mourning Cloak is already at work, serving as a crucial pollinator while also searching for a mate to begin the next generation. Despite its delicate appearance, this butterfly is a rugged survivor, often living for nearly a year—an impressive lifespan in the butterfly world. With its tattered wings from last season’s adventures, it embodies endurance and transformation, a winged reminder that even in the lingering chill of winter, life is stirring, ready to burst forth with the promise of spring.
Profile by Kristen O’Hara & Photo by Mouser Williams