Mourning Cloak: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Butterflies of the Americas · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. A mourning cloak can live 11 to 12 months. That is one of the longest lives of any butterfly.
2. It spends winter as an adult, tucked in tree holes or under loose bark. It often flies again before the snow has fully melted.
3. In danger, it can play dead, wings shut tight and legs tucked in, for a few minutes. It may also make loud clicks as it flies off.
4. Unlike most butterflies, it rarely visits flowers. It mostly drinks tree sap and the juice of ripe, fallen fruit.
5. In Britain it is called the Camberwell beauty, after two were found in Camberwell, London, in August 1748.

The quiz

1. How long can a mourning cloak live?

• 2 days
• About 1 week
• 11 to 12 months (correct)
• 20 years

Its 11 to 12 month lifespan is among the longest of any butterfly.

2. How does the mourning cloak get through winter?

• As an adult, hidden in tree holes or under bark (correct)
• As an egg at the bottom of a pond
• By flying to Australia
• As a caterpillar inside a flower

Adults hibernate in tree cavities or under loose bark.

3. What trick does the mourning cloak use when in danger?

• It changes colour to bright green
• It sprays water
• It plays dead (correct)
• It digs a hole

It closes its wings, tucks its legs and holds still for a few minutes.

4. What does an adult mourning cloak mostly feed on?

• Pollen from roses
• Leaves of grass
• Nectar from flowers only
• Tree sap and fallen fruit (correct)

It feeds mainly on sap and ripe fallen fruit, and very rarely on flowers.

5. Why is it called the Camberwell beauty in Britain?

• It was first painted by an artist called Camberwell
• Two were found in Camberwell, London, in 1748 (correct)
• It only lives in Camberwell
• A queen named it after her castle

The name comes from two butterflies discovered in Camberwell in August 1748.

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