Butterfly peacock eye - description, habitat, species

The name of this butterfly sounds like nachisio, and such a combination of words from Latin translates exactly like a peacock eye. The insect belongs to the nymphalid family, where there are two types of these butterflies:

• daytime peacock eye;
• night peacock eye.

In addition, there are many differences in the characteristic parameters of these butterflies, which can have a minimum wing size of about 25 millimeters, and a maximum that reaches up to 18 centimeters. Typically, average values ​​are about 50 millimeters for males and 50-60 millimeters for females. In this case, there are butterflies large peacock eye, which have a size of about 15 centimeters.

Characteristics

Compared to other butterflies, the peacock eye has quite significant differences that even a person who is not particularly experienced in studying butterflies can see. In particular, the edges of the wings are torn and uneven. Of course, it should be noted a typical pattern, which is identical to the pattern of the peacock's tail, but can be in different color combinations:

• the black;
• ginger;
• red;
• gray-pocked;
• grey;
• blue blue.

Depending on the species, a distinctive feature is activity in a certain period of the day. As it is not difficult to understand, the daytime peacock eye is active mainly in the afternoon. You can probably guess when the most active butterflies, which belong to the type of night peacock eye.

Habitat and other facts and details

• meadows;
• steppes;
• wasteland;
• forest edges;
• gardens;
• ravines;
• parks;
• the mountains.

An interesting feature is the peacock's love of nettles. Often, butterflies are observed precisely in the thickets of this plant.

For the most part, the butterfly is active in the warm season, although if it comes to the subtropic zone, it can act there during the winter thaw. In other regions, the peacock eye is observed in open spaces from spring to autumn. When frost sets in, the butterfly looks for various shelters, such as tree bark and various crevices, where it peacefully falls asleep, plunging into the so-called adult phase.

Butterfly character and lifestyle

If we talk about the type of diurnal peacock eye, then these butterflies are active only during the day and most often fly in thickets of nettles. In the spring, migration is carried out, which depends on weather conditions. If the weather allows, then the butterfly tribes perform a movement that allows you to get a new, more favorable space for living and, accordingly, better opportunities for reproduction.

In addition, different generations and tribes of butterflies can choose their own period of flights to other regions. For example, some fly in June, while others prefer September.

As said earlier, in the winter butterflies seek shelter. This may be a haystack or tree bark, sometimes the roof of the house. One way or another, the main signs here are coolness and dampness.

Coolness is not just a whim of a butterfly. Low temperatures are needed in order to slow down the processes in the body and thus allow overwintering in a kind of suspended animation.If the temperature suddenly rises in the winter, where the butterfly lives, then there is a risk of death.

Butterfly Nutrition

Caterpillars of this butterfly also live in nettles and eat nettles. Although the caterpillar can use other plants:

• hemp,
• willow,
• raspberries,
• hop.

These butterflies are quite consistent and thorough, and if they choose a plant, they eat it completely.

The diet of an adult butterfly is:

• burdock;
• plant juice;
• thyme;
• nectar of garden flowers.

For the most part, nectar is preferred, but only the daytime peacock eye has such a preference. The night peacock eye is an ascetic butterfly, since it does not eat at all, and at the butterfly stage it uses only such stocks that are made at the caterpillar stage. This is actually not much surprising, since the period of existence at the butterfly stage is quite short and is about 12 weeks. Therefore, the reserves made by the caterpillar may well be enough for normal functioning.

Reproduction and longevity

Reproduction is carried out by caterpillars, consists of a set of successive stages.

1. The butterfly emerges from hibernation and begins to lay eggs on the back of a leaf of dioecious or stinging nettle. This process runs from April to May.
2. Each generation is about 300 individuals.
3. In May, caterpillars appear, which remain so for 16 weeks, that is, until the fall.
4. The caterpillars live quite amicably, with a large family, but for the time being, in August there comes a period when you need to split up and go to weave your own cocoon. It is there that the pupal stage will be formed.
5. The pupa matures for two weeks in a cocoon, which the caterpillar pre-supplements with a special protective color. The color is selected based on the plant where the chrysalis hangs and can be green, brown or otherwise.
6. The final stage is a butterfly, which is formed largely depending on the temperature and takes on one form or another.

In conclusion, it should be noted the difference in the duration of existence depending on gender. Males come out of hibernation in June and complete their earthly journey in August. Females appear closer to autumn and leave this world around October.

Video: butterfly peacock eye