Michael Menefee Photography

  • Home
  • Galleries
  • Work Requests and Stock
  • Search
  • Bio
  • Contact

The Variety Collection

My images in this gallery are used in other galleries or for elements of the website, but please do feel free to browse/shop it if you are curious. You will find a large potpourri of my photography in this collection with image subjects ranging from urban to wilderness.
Read More
Mourning Cloak Joy
430 / 787

Mourning Cloak Joy

It really does bring me joy to see the first mourning cloaks of spring. These butterflies are perhaps are most long-lived at around ten months. This is one near that age that has overwintred and is now rushing to find a mate. You can tell it's an older one by the torn and worn wings.

What is overwintering you say? I'm glad you asked!

During ( http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/mourningcloak.html ) cold winter weather they spend the time frozen in "cryo-preservation" in tree cavities, beneath loose tree bark or in unheated buildings. They survive almost anywhere they can fit into, to protect them from winter winds and keep them out of the view of birds and squirrels. These places are called hibernaculums (an overwintering den).

ButterflyMourning CloakNymphalis antiopaCamberwell BeautyNatureSpringCOColoradoLarimerFort CollinsNikonD300FaunaFloraFlowersFloralSquareSquare CropDiagonalFlutteryFridayFine ART photosBlackAprilDORSALMourningantiopaNymphalisNymphalinaeNymphalidaeBMNAlargebrowninsectsTortoiseshellsadultBrushfooted ButterfliesV.O.BupwardriseDiagonalAvianBirdBirdingBirdsOrnithologyAnimalFortCollinsMichael Menefee

  • Blue and Gold Vedauwoo Reverie
  • Orange You Glad You Met Me?
  • Sandala Cosmos
  • Boiling Pot of Martian Doom
  • Jackson Lake from Signal Mountain
  • Oh For Shrike's Sake
  • Rockin' Out in Vedauwoo, Wyoming
  • Wyoming Roadside Jewel
  • Vanishing Pier-ipheral Vision
  • Mourning Cloak Joy
  • Bee Meditation
  • Opening to the Change of Season
  • Sipping a Taste of Spring
  • Bee Still
  • Hoverfly Hyacinth Hangout
  • Fossil Creek Deception
  • Jetting Out of the Sunset
  • Flight of a Grassland Songster
  • Sky Mirror Amusement Park
  • Kinetic Tahoe Sunrise Splashes
  • No Comments

All Images Copyright © Michael Menefee | All Rights Reserved

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.