Finding Utah Butterflies-->Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

Overview:

Mourning Cloaks can be found in our mountain canyons and valley floors near rivers. Numbers of this butterfly can fluctuate greatly from one year to another. It is possible to find Mourning Cloaks in neighborhoods where there are some willows or elm trees. Because Mourning Cloaks overwinter as adult butterflies, they oddly seem to be the most noticeable in the late winter or early spring following only a few consecutive days of 50+ degree temperatures. These Overwintered adult butterflies are often somewhat worn as they had emerged and flown the previous fall. Caterpillars are gregarious which means they feed communally in large numbers on willows and cottonwoods. Females lay clumps of eggs on willow and elm stems.

Note: To leverage the next section and fly to specific locations, you need to install Google Earth.

Specific Localities:

Provo River Parkway, Provo, Utah County, Utah.  N40 14'16.13" W111 43'49.63" or click here.
American Fork Canyon, Mutual Dell, Utah County, Utah.  N40 26'52.98" W111 38'41.47" or click here.
Lambs Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. N40 44'4.36" W111 40'13.04" or click here.
City Creek Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. N40 47'37.07" W111 52'35.87"or click here.
Mueller Park, Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. N40 51'41.06" W111 49'51.61" or click here.
Taylor Canyon, Ogden, Weber County, Utah. N41 12'55.88" W111 55'34.51" or click here.

Flight Periods:

Mourning Cloaks can appear as early as February with a few consecutive days of 50+ degree temperatures. Offspring from these butterflies appear around June with another fresh generation flying from September/October until cold weather.

Raising Caterpillars Resources:

Raising Butterflies: http://www.raisingbutterflies.org/nymphalis-antiopa/  

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