Butterfly peacock eye - one of the wonders of nature

Nature has many creations of amazing beauty and grace. One of them is a bright butterfly peacock eye. It is easy to distinguish it from other representatives of the order Lepidoptera according to its characteristic pattern. On the wings are four blue eyes in a dark border. The insect lives throughout Eurasia, it is easy to meet it in early spring in a garden or park. The butterfly feeds on nectar of plants, gives preference to buddley - a shrub with white or lilac fragrant flowers.

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The beauty of butterflies invariably attracts the enthusiastic looks of fauna lovers. In the photo one of the amazing creations of nature is the butterfly peacock eye. She is a typical inhabitant of household plots and forest glades. It prefers free, well-lit areas rich in flowering vegetation. In dense forests, she risks damaging scaly wings on tree branches.

Systematics of the insect:

• family - Nymphalids;
• genus - Aglais (urticaria);
• view - Inachisio Daytime peacock eye.

The family of nymphalids is characterized by a motley coloring of the wings on the outside and patronizing on the inside. Many of its representatives are prone to migration in search of better food places. The genus of urticaria is not numerous, it includes only 6-7 species, including the butterfly, daytime peacock eye.

Information. The history of the Latin name of the species is associated with Greek mythology. Inachis is the name of the river god Inach, Io is his beautiful daughter.

The peacock eye does not differ in large size, the length of its front wings is 30 mm, wingspan - 60-62 mm. The wings are wide, the outer edge with notches and angular protrusions. Their main background is reddish-brown or red. A grayish-brown stripe runs along the edges. In the upper part of the front and rear pair of wings there is a characteristic pattern in the form of an eye with a blue middle. It is surrounded by yellowish, white and black rings. In the description of the butterfly, the peacock eye should be noted for the protective color on the underside of the wings. Against a dark background, light brown curvy lines create an imitation of a dry leaf.

Interesting fact. The color intensity is affected by the temperature at which the pupa developed.

The head is rounded, sucking-type mouth apparatus, with proboscis. The antennae are club-shaped. The eyes are complex, faceted, in shape resembling hemispheres. The chest consists of three segments. The front legs are reduced. They are not used when walking, insects move on the middle and hind legs. In the middle of the front tibia there is a spur for cleaning the antennae. Sexual dimorphism manifests itself in the structure of the antennae and size - the females are slightly larger than the males.

Caterpillar appearance

Butterflies are insects with complete transformation. Their life cycle has a larval stage called a caterpillar. The appearance of the offspring is impressive, their length reaches 42 mm, and the body is covered with several rows of spikes. The color of the caterpillars of the butterfly is peacock eye of black color, white dots are scattered throughout the body. Branches of spines protect each torso segment. Walking legs are light.

Habitat

Butterflies are widespread throughout Europe, Asia and Japan. In the north, distribution is limited to a latitude of 60 °. In Eastern Europe it is found in all countries, with the exception of areas of the far north. Do not find the peacock eye on the island of Crete and in northern Africa. Insects settle everywhere where there are flowering plants: in forests, on the edges and glades, in ravines, on the banks of water bodies. In urban areas appear in parks squares, gardens. Butterflies live in the mountains, climbing to a height of 2500 km above sea level.

Information. The largest cluster of butterflies in the peacock eye is Germany.

Lifestyle

The main way of moving butterflies is flying. He can be active with flapping wings or passive - planning. Sometimes, in search of food, insects make long flights. What does a peacock eye butterfly eat? Like most lepidoptera, she sucks nectar from flowers. Among the taste preferences of the insect:

• dandelions;
• marigold;
• elder;
• clover;
• marjoram;
• buddley.

In addition to nectar, they consume the sweet juice of slightly rotten fruits, drink secretions on the tree bark.

The peacock eye refers to day butterflies, which are active in the daytime. In the middle latitudes, one generation changes in a year, and two generations manage to develop in the south. The first generation of adults appears in June-July, the second - in August-September. How long does a peacock eye butterfly live? Among insects, she is a long-lived woman - her life span is almost a year. The butterfly spends a significant part of the cycle in a state of suspended animation or hibernation.

Butterfly wintering

One of the remarkable features of the butterfly is wintering in the state of adults. Representatives of the second generation with the onset of cold weather are looking for reliable shelter for the cold season. They hide in the forest litter, under the bark of trees, in the crevices of farm buildings, in the attics. Having folded the wings, insects fall into suspended animation, their life processes slow down. In winter, butterflies are defenseless before the attack of predators, with insufficient accumulation of nutrients, they can die of hunger. Dangerous premature fever. About the time of the thaw, the peacock eye wakes up and leaves the shelter. The second time the insect is more difficult to get wintering.

Protective gear

Butterflies have many natural enemies, these include birds, rodents, reptiles, large insects. To frighten the opponent, an unusual color appeared at the peacock eye. When attacked by birds, the butterfly abruptly opens its wings. The appearance of wide-set eyes disorientes the predator, and in some cases causes it to retreat. Even a small delay in the insect is enough to escape from the enemy.

Breeding

Butterflies have complex forms of courtship in the form of flights and mating dances. Males divide the territory into separate sections where they expect flying females. After wintering, butterflies appear in early spring, it is they who give the first generation. The search for partners is facilitated by the distribution of pheromones. After fertilization, the female lays from 100 to 300 eggs on the back of the leaves of the fodder plants. Most often it is nettle. Masonry begins in early May. The embryo matures in one to two weeks, then a caterpillar appears.

Information. Young larvae live in large groups, up to 150 gluttonous individuals can appear on one nettle bush.

Caterpillars are equipped with a gnawing mouthpart; they feed on day and night with short breaks for rest. In the first age, the length of the larvae is about 2 mm; in the second, it is already 8 mm. They grow rapidly, eating all the leaves on the plant. In addition to nettles, insects settle on raspberries, hops, willow or birch leaves. The number of days between molting is different; in total, caterpillars are replaced by five ages. The larval stage takes about a month. Before pupation, the caterpillars creep in different directions.

Larvae have their own defense mechanisms. When attacked by predators, they take a threatening pose and simultaneously begin to move in different directions. This scares off the attacker.In addition, the caterpillars secrete an unpleasant green liquid, can curl up into a ball and fall to the ground. The angular pupa of gray-green or brownish-gold color can be seen on walls, branches or stems. The color depends on the location selected for pupation. This stage, depending on the ambient temperature, lasts 2-3 weeks.

The length of the pupa is 25-28 mm; it is formed upside down. Distinguishable rudiments of wings, proboscis, abdomen. The first generation of butterflies appears in late June. The cocoon ruptures along the head and the front edge of the wings.

Information. The natural enemies of the Sturmiabella parasite caterpillars. They infect larvae by laying eggs on fodder plants. Some species masonry directly into the body of the caterpillars. Larvae of flies eat the body of butterflies when they are in the pupal phase.

Related Butterfly Species

Butterflies of the peacock-eye family have a similar coloring of wings with a pattern of eyes. These are large insects with a wingspan of 12-15 cm. They are active in the dark. A distinctive feature of the family is the reduced oral apparatus. Insects do not feed on the adult stage. They live off the nutrients accumulated by the caterpillar.

Big night peacock eye

Peacock-eye pear or Saturnia is a butterfly common in southern and central Europe, the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Wingspan up to 155-160 mm, one wing - 55-70 mm. This is the largest nocturnal butterfly in Russia and Europe. At dusk or mistaken for bats. Females are larger than males, they have a short comb antennae, the proboscis is underdeveloped. The main color of the wings is grayish-brown. At the base there is a black stripe, the edges of the front and back pairs have a light border. Almost in the middle of each wing, a peephole with a dark center and a light ring is noticeable.

Butterfly summer time peacock night - May-June. This is a thermophilic species that does not tolerate frost. They can be found in the North of Africa, Turkey, the Mediterranean, in the south of Europe, the Caucasus, Iran, Syria. Their habitats are forests and parks with lots of shrubs. Females are inactive, males are much more active, they fly even during the day. But females live almost 3 times longer - 20 days against 8. The favorite fodder tree of Saturnia caterpillars is a pear. But they enjoy eating on cherries, apple trees, plums, quinces, almonds, and maples. The caterpillar grows up to 10 cm, during the course of life it changes color several times. The large peacock eye gives one generation a year; the pupa leaves for wintering.

Attention. Peacock-eye pear listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. In Russia, protected in the Voronezh, Rostov and Belgorod regions.

Small night peacock eye

The small peacock-eye also belongs to the genus Saturn. Unlike the large peacock eye, it is found throughout the Palearctic. Wingspan up to 60 mm. The male has front reddish-gray wings, and hind orange. Females have a more modest coloration of light gray color. The pattern is represented by wavy lines and bandages of dark brown and yellowish color. Each wing has an eye - the middle is dark, the border is black and light.

Adults do not eat, live 3-4 weeks. Caterpillars live on thorns, raspberries, blackberries, willow, birch, heather. Larvae have to stock up food for a chrysalis and a butterfly. The insect hibernates at the pupal stage; years begin in April-May.

How to care for a peacock butterfly

Some wildlife lovers bring insects home. Someone wants to watch the change of stages of their development or just have a particle of beauty at home. It is interesting to grow a butterfly from a caterpillar. It is placed in a container or jar and fed with leaves. When the time comes to pupate, you will need soil. An individual born will take time to spread its wings. How to feed a peacock eye butterfly at home? The insect diet includes flower nectar and fruit juice. In the warm season, you can daily bring fresh flowers, plucked on the site.

In winter, it will not be possible to provide the butterfly with nectar, and in a warm apartment it will not hibernate. Flower nectar perfectly replaces a solution of honey.The natural product is diluted with water in a proportion of 1:10. The insect is taken by the body and planted on the edge of the saucer with syrup. The menu includes fresh fruits. Orange, ripe pear, banana are cut into pieces and offered to the pet. A day will need 1-2 feedings. The peacock eye can be forcibly sent to suspended animation. A plastic container with ventilation holes is required. In such a house, the insect is taken out onto a loggia, where it is dry and cool.

The average life span of a peacock butterfly is 3-6 months, with good care it will long delight with its beauty. If you plant nettles on the site, then there is a real chance to meet fluttering butterflies daily.