Mourningcloak Butterfly |
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Mourningcloak butterflies (Nymphalis antiopa) are one of a number of species that spend the winter as adults. During cold winter months they pass the time frozen in "cryo-preservation" in tree cavities, beneath loose bark, or in unheated buildings to protect them from cold winds and foraging birds or squirrels. These hiding places are called hibernaculums.
The North American common name for this species, Mourningcloak, refers to the butterfly's resemblance to a traditional cloak worn when one was "in mourning". Its common name in England is Camberwell Beauty. |
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