When it comes to the assignment of the mourning cloak butterfly , there is an challenging historical connection that yield it such a somber and mournful title . This butterfly species , scientifically know as Nymphalis antiopa , derives its unwashed name from its striking resemblance to a traditional cloak worn during times of mourning .
In ancient times , it was customary for someone to wear specific garments as a visual representation of their grief and sorrow . These mourning cloaks were typically long , flowing ness or cloaks made from dark - colored fabric such as black or rich purple . The purpose of these cloaks was to signify to others that the person was in a point of bereavement , usually due to the loss of a loved one .
The mourning cloak butterfly stroke possesses a coloration and pattern that closely resemble these lamentation cloak . Its wings are preponderantly dark brown or calamitous , with a boundary line of iridescent blue situation and a row of bright , xanthous edges . This compounding of colors , along with the butterfly ’s orotund size of it , move over it an appearance akin to a menstruate cloak drape over one ’s shoulders .
I vividly remember the first clip I encountered a bereavement cloak butterfly stroke in my garden . It was a ardent summertime afternoon , and I was tending to my plants when I noticed a turgid , dark butterfly stroke gracefully fluttering around . Its wings seemed to possess an air of elegance , almost like a flowing cape billowing in the wind . Instantly , the name “ mourning cloak ” resonated with me , as it perfectly captured the butterfly ’s appearing and put forward a sense of melancholy .
It is worth noting that the mourning cloak butterfly ’s tie-up with bereavement run beyond its appearance . In some cultures and folklore , butterflies are conceive to symbolize the John Barleycorn of departed loved ones or answer as messengers from the afterlife . Therefore , the designation of this butterfly as the “ mourning cloak ” not only think over its forcible resemblance to a mourning garment but also hints at its potential emblematic connection to grief and loss .
The mourning cloak butterfly ’s name is profoundly rooted in its resemblance to the traditional cloak worn during period of bereavement . Its dingy brownish or fateful wing , decorate with blue smudge and yellowish edges , give it a striking resemblance to these somber garments . This connectedness to mourning not only lies in its appearance but also in the symbolical significance of butterfly in various acculturation . The name “ mourning cloak ” suffice as a poignant reminder of the butterfly ’s peach loop with a sense of melancholic and remembrance .
Caroline Bates
