The Peacock Butterfly

Do you know what the peacock butterfly's scientific name is? It is Nymphalide. It belongs to the family called brush-footed butterflies that all have a front pair of legs called brush feet. Brush feet are extremely short front legs that are used to help locate food. The brush feet are useless for walking and grasping.

The peacock butterfly likes stinging nettle plants to lay their eggs on. Each female lays about 250 eggs. Their eggs are smaller than the head of a pin! When the caterpillars hatch, they eat the egg shell first. When the caterpillars are still small they keep close together so that predators like birds can't get them. When the caterpillars are molting they come together in a big crowd.

While the caterpillar is going into its chrysalis it is called the last molt. The chrysalis is dark green. Before the butterfly has emerged from the chrysalis, you can see the design on the butterfly's wings. When the butterfly is emerging, it seems as though the chrysalis is unzipping!

The peacock butterfly is seen in forests, parks, gardens, and in high mountains of Europe and Asia. The peacock is named for the bright markings on its wings. Its eyespots resemble the markings on a peacock's tail feathers. The butterfly has dull undersides that look like tree bark.