Peacock butterfly

With the sunny spring days, all sorts of butterflies can be seen around here.

Let’s begin with the European Peacock (Aglais io), more commonly known simply as the Peacock butterfly.

It can easily be recognized with its colorful eye-spots on every wing, similar to peacock feather, explaining its name.

The other side of the wings is grey/brown. In order to avoid observation or detection by other animals, it blends into its environment by mimicking a leaf and staying immobile, particularly during hibernation (crypsis).

The Peacock is common here and can be found along the creek, in woods, fields, meadows and pastures. It can have up to three generations per year and hibernates over winter in attics, wood piles or holes in stones.

Saturnia pyri, the giant peacock moth, with eyespots too, has darker colors because it flies at night.

Other butterflies of our valley: here