looduskalender.ee

It is prime time for mourning cloak butterflies. They winter as imagos, and the springtime ones  have a slightly worn look.

We can be sure to see them -  they are among the largest of the Estonian Nymphalidae or Brush-footed butterflies  - until the second half of September. They look magnificent, with wings with a velvety brown base colour, edged by a line of blue dots and and an off-white or even buttercoloured border. Simple but elegant.