Don’t Touch These If You See Them on Your Plants: Meet the Mourning Cloak Butterfly Eggs That Look Like Alien Art

The Life Cycle of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly — Step by Step

Step 1: Egg Laying

When: Early spring to mid-summer
Where: On the tender branches of deciduous trees
What to Look For: Shiny, bead-like eggs arranged in tight rows encircling a twig

Step 2: Hatching into Caterpillars (Larvae)

Eggs hatch within 10–15 days, releasing tiny black caterpillars with red spots and fine spines.
These larvae live communally at first, eating leaves from the same tree.

Step 3: Growth and Molting

Over a few weeks, the caterpillars molt several times, growing larger and more armored-looking.
They may wander away from the original plant as they seek new feeding spots.

Step 4: Pupation

Once mature, the caterpillars hang upside down from sheltered spots like eaves or branches.
They form a chrysalis — angular, gray-brown, and hanging like a dry leaf.

Step 5: Emergence of the Butterfly

After 10–14 days, the adult Mourning Cloak butterfly emerges.
They are instantly recognizable by their dark, velvety wings trimmed with golden borders.

Step 6: Overwintering

Mourning Cloaks are unique among butterflies: they hibernate as adults.
They seek shelter in woodpiles, tree bark, or sheds and reappear in early spring — often one of the first butterflies to be seen after winter.

How to Protect and Encourage Mourning Cloaks in Your Garden

Avoid Spraying Pesticides: Especially on trees like willow, elm, or hackberry.
Leave Their Eggs Alone: If you find clusters of metallic eggs, consider it a gift — and a lesson in patience and beauty.
Plant Native Trees: Encourage more Mourning Cloaks by planting host trees in your yard.
Leave Leaf Litter in Fall: Adult butterflies hibernate in sheltered, undisturbed spots like woodpiles or leaf litter.
Observe and Learn: Keep a garden journal to track butterfly appearances and transformations.

In Conclusion

That strange ring of shimmering dots you spotted on your willow twig isn’t a pest invasion — it’s a miracle in progress. The Mourning Cloak butterfly, with its gothic wings and mysterious life cycle, is a living gem in your backyard. By choosing not to touch those alien-like eggs, you’re giving life to an awe-inspiring transformation — and a small but powerful act of conservation.

So next time you see something strange on your plants, take a moment to investigate. Not everything that looks bizarre is dangerous. Sometimes, it’s just the quiet beginning of something beautiful.