Peacock Butterfly Facts
Peacock Butterfly Facts
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| Interesting Peacock Butterfly Facts: |
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| Peacock butterfly is one of the larger species of butterflies. Males are smaller than females. Their wingspan ranges from 2.4 inches in males to 2.7 inches in females. |
| Peacock butterflies can be easily recognized by beautiful purple eyespots on the hind wings. When looked from up-side down, this pattern on the wings resembles to face of an owl. |
| Specific coloration of their wings provides protection against predators by confusing or even scaring them away. |
| In the case it is threatened or bothered, peacock butterfly will flash its wings and produce hissing sound by rubbing its wings in front of the predator. |
| Edges of the wings of the peacock butterfly are dark and look like dead leaves. Underside of the wings is dull brown in color, which together with edges ensures excellent camouflage when butterfly rests on the bark of the trees. |
| Males and females have same patterns on their wings (look exactly the same); only difference is in their size. |
| Peacock butterflies feed on the nectar of different types of the plants. Caterpillars (larvae) eat nettles. |
| Peacock butterfly is strong flyer and it can travel long distances. It has nomadic instinct and instead of having permanent home, it travels all the time. |
| Just like all other butterflies, peacock butterfly can detect red, green and yellow color. |
| Peacock butterflies live in temperate areas and they need to hibernate to survive low temperatures and lack of food during the winter period. Crevices, hollow trees and attics are usually the places occupied by peacock butterflies during the hibernation. |
| Peacock butterflies mate after they emerge from hibernation, usually in February. |
| Female lays up to 500 eggs after mating, usually in the sunny areas covered with nettles, which are the primary food for the caterpillars. |
| Peacock butterfly undergoes complete metamorphosis, which means that it changes body shape and size several times until it gains the appearance of an adult butterfly. After female lays eggs, they turn into caterpillars. This is active stage characterized by rapid growth due to constant eating. Larvae molts several times as it grow. Caterpillar transforms into pupa, which is a resting stage, when insect is encased in the cocoon. Finally, pupa gives rise to adult butterfly. Whole process of transformation lasts couple of months. It starts in March, April or May and finishes in July. Adult butterfly does not change its size for the rest of its life. |
| Males are very territorial and they will chase away all female butterflies from their territory during the summer (when the mating season is over). |
| Peacock butterfly has a long lifespan. It can live around 11 months. |
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