Hobbies And Interests
Butterfly Description
The peacock butterfly has bright red-orange wings that feature black eyespots with blue-purple flecks. They are so named for the eyespots that resemble the tail of a peacock. The butterfly has a wingspan of between 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 inches. Female peacock butterflies are slightly larger than males. The eyespots on the butterfly's wings provide camouflage and are thus a defense against predators.
Habitat Specifics
Peacock butterflies are found in woods, meadows, pastures, parks and gardens as well as mountains, hills and lowland regions. Peacock butterflies will be found in areas that have plenty of flowers to provide nectar. Habitats that support peacock butterflies have an abundance of food sources and larval food (nettles). Male peacock butterflies can be found in sunny locations where they will chase after females in an attempt to mate.
Life Cycle
The caterpillar of the peacock is shiny and black in color with white spots and spines along its back and sides. The adult butterflies prefer patches of nettles in sunny locations with nearby shelter of wooded areas or hedges for breeding. Females will lay eggs underneath nettle leaves during the month of May. The eggs are laid in groups, and upon hatching two weeks after they were laid, the young caterpillars stay together, protected by a silk web. When they are ready to pupate, they separate. Adult butterflies will emerge about two weeks later in the latter part of July, then gather at nectar plants to feed. Adult Peacock butterflies will hibernate beginning in September in hollow trees and even attics if they can get into them. The young adults will mate the following year after emerging from their hibernation. This emergence usually occurs between February and April.
Adult Food
Adult Peacock butterflies feed on nectar plants such as thistles and butterfly bushes (buddleia). Like most butterfly species, peacocks will also feed on overripe fruit that has fallen to the ground. After emerging as adult butterflies, Peacocks will feed on nectar sources in order to build up reserves that will carry them through their hibernation period.
Larval Food
Larval food plants for Peacock butterfly caterpillars are nettles and hops, although nettles is the preferred host plant. An appropriate habitat will have an abundance of these plants to provide food for newly emerged caterpillars.