Côté pile, ses ailes sombres offrent au Paon du Jour un camouflage hors pair sur les troncs et dans les endroits ombragés. Côté face, il affiche sa couleur dominante, le rouge. Cette couleur est dite aposématique : elle prévient les prédateurs de la toxicité du papillon. De plus, en ouvrant brusquement ses ailes, le Paon du Jour étale deux grands yeux, censés déstabiliser les prédateurs téméraires, le temps pour le papillon de s'enfuir à tire d'aile ! Il hiverne souvent dans les greniers, les hangars et même les maisons. On le rencontre dans toute la France.  Observation en vol : Février à octobre.  Nombre de générations par an : 1 à 3.  Milieux de vie : Bords de chemins, haies, lisières, prairies, jardins, parcs, friches.  Description Adulte   Envergure : 55-65 mm.  Apparence :  Mâle comme femelle sont identiques, vivement colorés sur le dessus. Le fond rouge marqué au bout de chaque aile par des ocelles soulignés de noir, éclatant de jaune, de bleu métallique et de rouge font de ce papillon un "immanquable" !  Le dessous des ailes semble l'inverse du dessus, sombre et marbré de brun.

Usually one generation is produced each year. Females lay eggs in groups underneath nettle leaves during May, after around two weeks the eggs hatch. The caterpillars live in groups, protected by a web of silk, before dispersing to pupate, hanging underneath vegetation (3). The adults emerge around two weeks later, in late July. They gather together at sources of nectar, building up reserves to see them through hibernation, which usually begins in September (2) and occurs in hollow trees and other refuges, including attics (4). They do not mate until the following year, emerging from hibernation as early as February, with peak emergence occurring in April. Males defend territories in sunny locations, and chase any females that pass by (2).

The beautiful peacock butterfly is a well-known and instantly recognisable species thanks to its unique patterning. The stunning eyespots, which earn this species its common name, frighten predators, or divert birds from attacking the body (1). In stark contrast to the brightly coloured upper surfaces, the undersides of the wings are dull brown (1). The sexes are similar in appearance, but females are slightly larger (4). The caterpillar, which grows to 4.2 cm in length, has a black, spine-covered body freckled with fine white spots (3).

The peacock butterfly is found throughout Europe and the temperate regions of Asia and Japan (Carter 1992).

Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native )

This butterfly is widespread and common in the southern half of Britain, but becomes scarcer further north (2). It is widespread in Ireland, and occurs throughout much of temperate Europe, extending northwards to southern Scandinavia, but is absent from many areas of the extreme south. It also occurs in Asia, reaching Japan (2).

The adult members of the species are light brown on the dorsal surface and dark brown on the ventral surface with purplish-black lines for camouflage; the wingspan varies from 2 1/4" - 2 1/2" (Carter 1992). The forelegs of the butterfly are reduced to form brush-like cleaning tools that render it incapable of holding onto a substrate. The feet of the butterfly differ between sexes with the male having only one elongated segment and the female having five segments. Both sexes lack any claws on the body (Knopf 1975). The females are somewhat larger than the males and both have prominent eyespots which give the species its common name. These eyespots are used to deter predators from the butterfly's vulnerable body (Carter 1992).

The larval stage of the species produces a black, shiny caterpillar with branched spines (spurs) along its back. The larvae pupate in a strange-shaped cocoon that is grey/green or brown in color with two horns at the head. The head of the pupae hangs down and only the abdomen is anchored with silk (Grzimek 1972).

These butterflies, accustomed to the more temperate regions of Eurasia, primarily inhabit woods, fields, meadows, pastures, parks, and gardens. In the garden and park areas, the peacock butterfly is the most common butterfly found. It has been found in lowlands, hills, and mountains reaching altitudes of 8,200 feet (Zahraduik 1991).

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest

Peacock butterflies occur in a wide range of habitats, and are familiar garden visitors to buddleias (Buddleja davidii). The adults prefer to feed in open areas in woodlands, and breeding habitat typically consists of large patches of nettles (Urtica dioica and Urtica urens), in sunny areas sheltered by woodland or hedges (2).

Following their reemergence in early spring, the mature peacock butterflies feed on flowering sallows, dandelions, wild marjoram, danewort, hemp agrimony, and clover fields. As the season progress into fall and these plants are no longer abundant, the butterflies begin to feed upon asters, thistles, chrysanthemums, sap from deciduous trees, and overripe fruit. The butterfly's survival can be attributed to its ability to adapt to the deterioration of its food supply, moving to different forms of vegetation as needed (Zahraduik 1991).

The caterpillars use the hops and stinging nettles (upon which they have emerged from eggs) as their main source of food until they pupate (Carter 1992).

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Compsilura concinnata is endoparasitoid of larva of Inachis io

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Nemorilla floralis is endoparasitoid of larva of Inachis io

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Pelatachina tibialis is endoparasitoid of larva of Inachis io

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Phryxe vulgaris is endoparasitoid of larva of Inachis io

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Winthemia quadripustulata is endoparasitoid of larva of Inachis io

Les oeufs sont déposés en groupe sur la face inférieure des feuilles de la plante hôte. Ils sont de couleur pâle, allant du jaune au vert...  Chenille  Taille : 40 mm au dernier stade.  Apparence : La chenille est noire, ponctuée de blanc, le corps couvert d'épines noires.   Plante hôte : Ortie principalement, mais aussi houblon.  Chrysalide: La chrysalide est anguleuse, de couleur gris jaunâtre, avec une double rangée d'épines et une ligne marron sur le dos. Elle est attachée au support par un appendice formant des crochets, le crémaster.

The life span of peacock butterflies is almost a year, beginning with the emergence from the egg in early summer to reproductive maturity followed by death late in the subsequent spring, approximately in May (Zahraduik 1991). In May, females lay olive-green ovoid eggs in large clusters on host plants, which are typically stinging nettles and hops; the larvae will emerge in July (Burton 1979).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species. 

 
There are 6 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
 

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Species: 10
Species With Barcodes: 1

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species. 

 
There are 6 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
 

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Species: 25
Species With Barcodes: 1

This widespread and common species is not threatened. It is not listed under any conservation designations (2).

This species is not currently threatened.

No conservation action is targeted at this widespread and common butterfly.

The peacock butterfly does not adversely affect humans.

The peacock butterfly does not positively benefit humans, except in its role as pollinator.