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Peacock
Behaviour and Ecology Peacock butterflies are nomadic in nature and display a tendency to fly north in spring and south in late summer. These movements are not sufficiently well-defined to be regarded as being truly migratory in nature and Peacocks have only rarely been documented to make a sea crossing. Overwintered individuals feed during the morning and the males set up territories from about 1pm. They then show a dogged persistence in pursuit of any female that enters their territory. Females that have already been mated will go to significant lengths (including hiding) to avoid such ardent males and even unmated females may lead a pursuit that can last for several hours. The main larval foodplant is common nettle and the young caterpillars, like those of Small Tortoiseshell, spin untidy webs over the leaves. Individuals that emerge from the main summer generation need to feed up in preparation for hibernation and remain quite mobile until they find a suitable place in which to hibernate. Once they find such a place, they tend to use it as a roost site overnight, venturing out locally to feed during the day. Most individuals begin hibernation during September. Identification The spectacular pattern of eyespots makes the Peacock one of the most recognisable butterflies. Both sexes are similar in appearance, the bright upperparts contrasting with the mottled brown underparts that provide camouflage when the wings are closed. Although the caterpillars resemble those of Small Tortoiseshell, they are slightly larger in size, velvety black in colour and covered with minute white spots.
The use of gardens - results from Garden BirdWatch Overwintered adults, often tatty in appearance, can be seen as early as February on sunny spring days, although the spring emergence typically peaks in late April in most years (as shown by the Garden BirdWatch reporting rate for 2003). Like Small Tortoiseshells they will hibernate in outbuildings but they only rarely enter houses, preferring instead to make use of hollow trees and woodpiles. It is the offspring of these individuals that make up the August peak in the 2003 Garden BirdWatch reporting rate. There is just a single brood each year, with some adults living for up to 11 months.
This is a familiar visitor to gardens, although less commonly reported from urban gardens than rural ones.
Peacock populations are gradually expanding in range northwards throughout England, checked only by the occasional cool wet summers that can keep numbers down. The species remains rare in Scotland to the north of Argyll, with most of the populations further north than this spread up the milder east coast. Click here to see a map showing the distribution of Peacocks within gardens at the national level, as recorded by BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatchers during 2003.
Click here to see what the region codes on the above graph mean. |
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