How the butterfly peacock eye hibernates: revealing the secrets of the insect

A bright representative of the nymphalids family - the peacock eye can be seen already in early spring. It is found in parks, gardens, forests and meadows. This species is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Red-brown wings with bright eyes attract close attention. Watching the fluttering moth, I want to know about his lifestyle. No less interesting, how does the peacock eye butterfly winter?

Butterfly Description

Day butterflies of the peacock eye type belong to the order Lepidoptera and the nymphalidae family. Insects differ in average size - wingspan 50-65 mm, body length 27-30 mm. Females are slightly larger than males. The main color of the wings is red or red-brown. An individual feature of the species is 4 large “eyes” located on each wing. Spots of various shades of blue are bordered with black and white edging.

A characteristic pattern is a mechanism of protection against predators. When birds attack, the insect opens its wings, disorienting the enemy. This is usually enough to scare away small birds such as a sparrow. A predator can partially damage the tip of the wings, but the butterfly will not lose its ability to fly.
On the back of the wings there is a patronizing coloration. Yellowish wavy stripes and dots on a black-brown background help merge with the surface of the trees, dry leaves and plant debris. The inconspicuous appearance of a peacock eye butterfly with folded wings provides camouflage from enemies in winter and summer.

Life cycle

Lepidoptera belong to the insects with a full cycle of transformation. They go through 4 stages of development: an egg, caterpillar, pupa and imago. In a peacock eye, this takes about 1 year. Wintered females mate with males in spring. In May, they lay up to 300 eggs on fodder plants: nettle, raspberry, willow, hop. Caterpillars are black, their body is covered with white dots, hairs and prickly spikes. They live in large groups, eating plants to the ground. Spread before pupation. The pupal stage lasts 1-2 weeks.

Information. One generation appears in the northern latitudes per season, and two in the southern latitudes. The first years of imago are from June to July, the second is from August to September.

Second generation females live up to 6 months. Half their lives are in a state of suspended animation. With the onset of cold weather, adults fall asleep, and in the spring flutter again over the flowers.

Habitat

Daytime moth is widespread throughout Europe and Asia. Insects avoid flying into the regions of the far north and desert of the tropical zone. The largest population settled in Germany. And on the island of Crete, representatives of the species are absent. Butterflies are found in forest glades, in ravines, in fields, in gardens and squares, in urban areas. In the mountains they live at an altitude of 2-2.5 thousand meters above sea level.

Preparing for the winter

How does a peacock eye butterfly prepare for a cold winter? After exiting the pupa, adults begin to actively eat. Insects falling asleep in the cold season have carefully stocked up nutrients since the end of summer. Their main diet is the nectar of flowering plants: elderberry, dandelions, clover, lavender. Storing up nutrients for several months of suspended animation helps rotted fruit and tree sap.

Seat selection

The peacock butterfly hibernates in temperate latitudes in September and in the south in October. She chooses a safe place to be sheltered from the cold and enemies. It could be:

• the attic of a house or outbuilding;
• cavity in the bark of a tree;
• hollow;
• cave and crevice of rocks;
• forest or meadow litter.

Hibernation is called hibernation. During this period, all life processes slow down (respiration, digestion), and body temperature decreases. The duration of the numbness depends on the environmental conditions. Sleep may be interrupted by fever. Butterfly chooses a secluded place, if it is a vertical surface, then clings tightly to the paws. Still, with dark folded wings, it looks like a dry autumn leaf.

Tip. If you find a peacock butterfly hibernating in a dry, comfortable place, do not disturb it. The insect will calmly wake up until spring.

The dangers that await insects in winter

Most of the insects survive the winter colds at the pupal stage, the cocoon provides additional protection against frost and microorganisms. Some butterflies migrate from the cold to the southern latitudes, where they safely survive the winter season. But the peacock eye, as well as hives and lemongrass, awaits the arrival of spring in the habitats. He hides in a bunch of autumn foliage and plunges into suspended animation.

Global warming has a negative impact on wildlife. More often in the middle of winter thaws occur with an average daily plus temperature of up to 10 ° C. Because of the heat, insects and animals wake up ahead of time. In winter, you can see a peacock butterfly appearing from a hollow or other shelter. This is a destructive awakening. The insect is wasting energy in vain, and it may not find another suitable place to continue hibernation.

Information. For a safe wintering, butterflies need a dry shelter. In a humid environment, they are attacked by deadly fungal infections.

Not all butterflies can survive the cold season. There are several reasons for the death of insects:

1. They often starve when they cannot accumulate enough energy in the fall.
2. Become food for birds or animals. Small rodents, most often mice, seek food in the hollows, farm buildings, and forest litter in winter.
3. They die from various infections.

Waking up in the spring after wintering, peacock butterflies are looking for any food sources - primroses, dandelions. They flutter over the flowers, collecting nectar, look for the juice that has appeared on the bark of trees. Males occupy sunny areas and expect the appearance of overwintered females for mating and procreation.