Subject: Mourning Cloak
Location: Southeast Tennessee, Cumberland Plateau
June 17, 2013 9:44 am
We saw this beauty the other morning and did not remember seeing a similar butterfly. From a distance, it looked black with bright yellow edges, but up close, it is much more interesting. From other photos in your files, I believe it is a Mourning Cloak.
We are on the Cumberland Plateau in southeast Tennessee.
Thanks for all your work and wonderful website!
Signature: Bob
Dear Bob,
This is just about the most gorgeous photo we have ever seen of a Mourning Cloak. It is obviously a freshly eclosed individual since it is so perfect and its colors so vivid. Thanks so much for adding to our archives.
I found his caterpillar the other day, beautiful spiked guy.
I almost stepped on one of these caterpillars on the sidewalk on my walk in Monrovia, CA a couple weeks ago. Fast mover!
I have have a Chinese elm tree here in San Diego county. The Mourning Cloak Caterpillar, are loving the tree. Hope to see the butterflies soon.