Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Description:

Per the attached Wikipedia article, the butterfly pictured in this spotting matches their description..."The mourning cloak butterfly is a large, unique butterfly, with special markings that do not match those of any other butterfly, making it easily distinguishable. It can have a wingspan up to four inches. The dorsal side of its wings are a dark maroon, or occasionally brown, with ragged pale-yellow edges. Bright, iridescent blue spots line the black demarcation between the maroon and the yellow. The ventral side of the wings has grey striations, with the same pale-yellow edges. They are a part of the Nymphalis family, called the brush-footed butterflies due to their hairy front legs. The species does not display any sexual dimorphism."

Habitat:

This butterfly was spotted at an altitude of 7,700' in a wooded area of Kyle Canyon, NV, at the base of Cathedral Rock.