# European Peacock Butterfly (*Aglais io*) The European Peacock Butterfly is a colorful insect with big, beautiful eyespots on its wings. It flutters around gardens and fields, bringing joy to everyone who sees it! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Gardens ![European Peacock Butterfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Inachis_io_Lill-Jansskogen.JPG&width=800) Photo: Korall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inachis_io_Lill-Jansskogen.JPG) ## Appearance The European Peacock Butterfly is a striking butterfly with rich maroon-brown wings. Each wing features a large, iridescent blue and black 'eyespots' that resemble an owl's eye. Its undersides are cryptically dark and mottled, providing excellent camouflage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Aglais ## Interesting facts - Peacock butterflies can sometimes overwinter indoors, even in garden sheds or attics! - Their wings are covered in tiny, overlapping scales, which create their amazing colors! - These butterflies are surprisingly strong fliers, darting quickly between flowers and sunny spots. - They hibernate through winter as an adult butterfly, emerging early in spring! ## Special abilities - **Eyespot Defense:** European Peacock Butterfly has vivid eyespots on its wings that look like large predator eyes, helping them startle and deter birds. - **Hiding Mode:** European Peacock Butterfly can fold its wings to reveal dark, camouflaged undersides, which helps them blend into tree bark or shadows. - **Warning Hiss:** European Peacock Butterfly can rub its wings together to make a quiet hissing sound, which helps them warn off predators when disturbed. - **Taste with Feet:** European Peacock Butterfly has taste receptors on its feet, which helps them test leaves for suitability before laying eggs. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 25-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 180-365 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Peacock butterflies sip sweet nectar from flowers and tree sap, while their larvae munch on leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed exclusively on stinging nettle leaves, while adults drink nectar and tree sap. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Tree sap, Rotten fruit, Stinging nettle leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Stinging Nettle (*Urtica dioica*) — Larvae feed exclusively on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Butterfly Bush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/butterfly-bush) (*Buddleja davidii*) — Adults visit its flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds sometimes prey on caterpillars or adults. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Peacock Butterfly? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is European Peacock Butterfly's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is European Peacock Butterfly? 25-30 mm ### How long does European Peacock Butterfly live? 180-365 days ### What does European Peacock Butterfly eat? Peacock butterflies sip sweet nectar from flowers and tree sap, while their larvae munch on leaves. ### Where is European Peacock Butterfly usually found? Gardens ### How does European Peacock Butterfly hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does European Peacock Butterfly have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo - [Biosphärengebiet Schwarzwald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-forest-biosphere-reserve) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [European Peacock Butterfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-peacock-butterfly)