# White Peacock (*Anartia jatrophae*) The White Peacock is a beautiful butterfly with bright white wings and lovely spots. 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:** 11 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** White Peacock Butterfly ![White Peacock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/WhitePeacock.jpg&width=800) Photo: Greg Hume, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WhitePeacock.jpg) ## Appearance The White Peacock is a medium-sized butterfly with striking white wings adorned with delicate brown and black markings. Its hindwings feature prominent dark eyespots, resembling the tail feathers of a peacock. While often white, its wings can also display light tan or yellowish hues, especially on the underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Anartia ## Interesting facts - Sometimes, White Peacocks migrate long distances, flying hundreds of miles to find warmer places! - These butterflies love sunshine! They often bask in sunny spots to warm up their bodies before they fly. - To drink sweet nectar, the White Peacock unrolls a long straw-like tongue called a proboscis. - White Peacock caterpillars are spiky and green or black, helping them look less tasty to predators! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** White Peacock can hide from predators by resting with its wings closed, as their undersides blend perfectly with dry leaves. - **Spot On:** White Peacock has large eyespots on its hindwings that can startle or confuse hungry birds, helping them escape. - **Lightning Fast:** White Peacock can quickly dart through the air, helping it escape danger and find tasty flowers for nectar. - **Taste Buds on Feet:** White Peacock can taste its food with its tiny feet, helping it find the perfect leaves for its caterpillars to eat. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-70 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult White Peacocks sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on specific leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat the leaves of host plants, while adults drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Wild petunia leaves, Ruellia plant leaves, Blechum plant leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Carolina Wild Petunia (*Ruellia caroliniensis*) — Caterpillars munch on its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [Western Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-kingbird) (*Tyrannus verticalis*) — Adult butterflies can be a snack for these birds. - **Pollinates:** [Spanish Needles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spanish-needles) (*Bidens alba*) — Adults help spread pollen while feeding on nectar. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Ambushes adult butterflies on flowers. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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 Be gentle and watch butterflies from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White Peacock? 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 White Peacock's wingspan? 35-70 mm ### How big is White Peacock? 15-25 mm ### How long does White Peacock live? 30-60 days ### How fast can White Peacock fly? 12 km/h ### What does White Peacock eat? Adult White Peacocks sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on specific leaves. ### Where is White Peacock usually found? Urban areas ### How does White Peacock hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Harry P. Leu Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harry-p-leu-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Butterfly World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butterfly-world) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cockroach-bay-aquatic-preserve) — US · Nature Reserve - [Edison and Ford Winter Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/edison-and-ford-winter-estates) — US · Botanical Garden - [El Cid Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-cid-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Fruit and Spice Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fruit-and-spice-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see White Peacock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-peacock) ## 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: [White Peacock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-peacock)