Sarnas, the bard peacock butterfly
As beautiful as it is common, this butterfly owes its name to the colorful eye spots that adorn its wings. These spots, as useful as they are aesthetic, mimic the eye of a predator to surprise them and allow the butterfly to escape.
The peacock butterfly
This butterfly is likely familiar to you with its two large eye spots and vibrant colors. Its wide distribution is due to the commonality of its host plant: the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). The peacock butterfly is indeed dependent on this plant on which it lays its eggs. Living in community, its caterpillar feeds on the leaves until they disperse for metamorphosis. Another peculiarity of this species is that it overwinters in its adult form. Thus, it is possible to find it in winter, hidden at the bottom of a cellar or inside a hollow tree.