How annoying-- I'm not sure if you'll be able to see my photobucket photos- click on "view all" button.

Here's also a wikipedia link to the Nymphalis antiopa that I just found searching online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalis_antiopa

Does that seem like the right match?

We DO have a big Chinese Elm out front, which it seems to like to feed on.

Do you know if we'll have any problems with these little buggers eating our other plants?

Thank you!

These butterflies (mourning cloak) are very common in southern California. I don't think they'll be a problem. They're not listed as a pest in the references I read.

Here is a link that might be useful: UCCE Integrated Pest Management

They are my favorite butterflies. Congratulations- I have not been able to establish them here. They don't eat much- a few leaves of your willow tree. They do not eat garden shrubs or flowers, just tree leaves.
Renee

Wow, thank you both! Lgteacher, great link, I bookmarked it.

Hosenemesis, how cool! I'm glad that we've attracted a friendly critter to our property! :)

I didn't notice that you said they were on your elm. That's good news- my neighbors have Chinese elms!
Renee

Raising Butterflies (mourning cloak)
Suitable Host Plants:
Almost any elm, hackberry, willow, or cottonwood,
Birch, or Aspen .... Larval plants include mostly riparian plants like willows, cottonwoods, elm, hackberry and others
It never fails to arouse admiration on account of its brilliant coloration and boldness of pattern." Comstock

Lynne, if you are new to gardening and like butterflies, you might want to look into planting a few milkweed plants too (Asclepias californica), the primary food plant for monarch butterflies. Those caterpillars are quite distinctive and the monarchs need all the help they can get in keeping their population numbers up.

{{gwi:510005}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Xerces - monarch conservation