The peacock butterfly is one of the most beautiful butterfly species that we can see in the garden. In our delight we completely forget that it also has voracious caterpillars. Find out more about the 2009 butterfly of the year.

Peacocks have a wingspan of up to 55mm

name and family

The peacock butterfly has the scientific name Aglais io. The butterfly comes from the noble butterfly family.

Different stages of development

The peacock butterfly goes through different stages of development. A caterpillar hatches from an egg, which pupates after a few weeks and turns into a butterfly. This hibernates in hiding and mates the following spring. This is how the cycle closes.

appearance of the eggs

  • each butterfly lays 50 to 150 eggs
  • previously only in May or June, now a second time in September
  • Storage space is the underside of nettle leaves
  • each egg is about 1mm small and greenish in color
  • with eight white longitudinal ribs
  • after two weeks the caterpillars hatch

The caterpillars

  • are initially only 3 mm long
  • they are white-greenish with a black head
  • feed on nettle leaves
  • live together
  • molt after a few days
  • then turn greyish brown
  • further moults follow
  • after 3-4 weeks they are fully grown
  • are then up to 42 m long
  • have black bodies with white spots and black spines
  • pupation soon follows

Adult butterfly

After about two weeks, the butterfly hatches. He inflates his wings with air and blood so they harden and he can fly. The wings have a distinctive pattern that makes the noble butterfly unmistakable.

  • have a rusty hue
  • there is a colored eye on each of the wing tips
  • Wing undersides are grey, with black marbling
  • Wing span is 50 to 55 mm

Notice:
If the wings are closed, the peacock butterfly can be mistaken for a withered leaf. On the other hand, spreading the wings can drive away potential predators, because the patterns are perceived as the eyes of a larger animal.

lifespan

The adult butterfly lives for a year, often two. The climatic conditions and how well the butterfly can overwinter are decisive for the lifespan. To do this, he visits caves or human dwellings, among other things. The place must be frost-free but below 12 °C. Then you fall into hibernation.

habitat

The butterfly is native to Europe and Asia, except off Greece, parts of the Iberian Islands and areas not far from the North Pole, such as B. Northern Scandinavia. It lives up to an altitude of 2,500 m.

The peacock butterfly can be found in light, sunny forests or on colorful meadows. But it also finds suitable habitats in residential areas. This butterfly can be spotted in parks, cemeteries and private gardens.

food

While the caterpillars feed exclusively on the stinging nettle plant, adult butterflies can fly to various flowers and suck their nectar, appearing to have a preference for purple flowers. Thistles, blue cushions, summer lilacs, dahlias, sweet peas and thyme are popular. In the spring, the first thing that attracts visitors is the willow, also known as the willow catkin.

predators

The peacock butterfly also has predators. These are other insects and some species of birds.

Category:

Animals in the garden