A common name for this species, mourning cloak, refers to its resemblance to a traditional cloak worn when one was mourning the death of a loved one. The scientific name is derived from both Latin and Greek; Latin: Nymphalis - of, or pertaining to a fountain, Greek: Antiopa - wife of Lycus, King of Thebes. It may appear in these photos that this butterfly only has four legs, but this is not the case - it has six, only the front pair are greatly reduced, appearing hairy and brush like. This is the reason members of this family, the Nymphalidae, are commonly known as "brush-footed butterflies".

Mourning cloak butterflies are some of the very few that can survive our winters here in the American Midwest. This specimen has awakened from its winter diapause
and is tapping an energy source, tree sap, which is available before any of the flowering plants have started operations.