Peacock Butterfly, Sept 2021, DSC_0611-2
The Peacock is probably the most easily recognised species of the Irish butterfly fauna. Big, eye-catching and colourful, it is not shy of people and its large peacock eyes cannot be confused with the markings on any other Irish butterfly.
Adults emerged from hibernation each spring, mate and the females’ lay eggs on the leaves of Common Nettle. The adults then dies and the species survived during early summer as caterpillars eating nettle leaves.
The spiny and hairy caterpillars are velvety black in colour and are speckled with small white spots. They pupate and the new adults emerge - beautifully fresh, clean and colourful - at the very end of July and early August.
They are still on the wing and will continue to sip nectar from a wide variety of wild plants and garden flowers well into September. Garden Buddleias are a particular favourite and are well worth checking out for these colourful insects that must surely rank among the most beautiful in their range.
The geographical range of the Peacock extends in a broad band sweeping across mainland Europe and Asia from Ireland to Japan. The sexes look identical but females are marginally larger than males.
The first leaves are already tumbling down and it is no accident that while on the ground the Peacock gains survival value by folding its wings over its back and by having underwings that are mottled dark greys and drab browns like a fallen autumn leaf.
When threatened it opens its wings suddenly and flashes its false eyes or eyespots like those on the tail feathers of the bird that it takes its name from. Experiments have shown that the impact on a startled would-be predator is sufficient to give the butterfly a significantly better chance of escaping.
Peacock butterflies can also rub their wings together to produce a hissing sound that is believed to startle foraging mice. The sound is especially important at night when flashing an eyespot in the dark would be a meaningless exercise.
As the weather deteriorates towards the end of September the Peacocks will find hollows, cracks and crevices in trees and walls to hibernate in. They will sit out the winter months and emerge again next spring to start the cycle all over again.
Jim Hurley - Nature Trail
Peacock Butterfly, Sept 2021, DSC_0611-2
The Peacock is probably the most easily recognised species of the Irish butterfly fauna. Big, eye-catching and colourful, it is not shy of people and its large peacock eyes cannot be confused with the markings on any other Irish butterfly.
Adults emerged from hibernation each spring, mate and the females’ lay eggs on the leaves of Common Nettle. The adults then dies and the species survived during early summer as caterpillars eating nettle leaves.
The spiny and hairy caterpillars are velvety black in colour and are speckled with small white spots. They pupate and the new adults emerge - beautifully fresh, clean and colourful - at the very end of July and early August.
They are still on the wing and will continue to sip nectar from a wide variety of wild plants and garden flowers well into September. Garden Buddleias are a particular favourite and are well worth checking out for these colourful insects that must surely rank among the most beautiful in their range.
The geographical range of the Peacock extends in a broad band sweeping across mainland Europe and Asia from Ireland to Japan. The sexes look identical but females are marginally larger than males.
The first leaves are already tumbling down and it is no accident that while on the ground the Peacock gains survival value by folding its wings over its back and by having underwings that are mottled dark greys and drab browns like a fallen autumn leaf.
When threatened it opens its wings suddenly and flashes its false eyes or eyespots like those on the tail feathers of the bird that it takes its name from. Experiments have shown that the impact on a startled would-be predator is sufficient to give the butterfly a significantly better chance of escaping.
Peacock butterflies can also rub their wings together to produce a hissing sound that is believed to startle foraging mice. The sound is especially important at night when flashing an eyespot in the dark would be a meaningless exercise.
As the weather deteriorates towards the end of September the Peacocks will find hollows, cracks and crevices in trees and walls to hibernate in. They will sit out the winter months and emerge again next spring to start the cycle all over again.
Jim Hurley - Nature Trail