European peacock
Inachis io
Habitat
The European peacock is found throughout the Netherlands. This butterfly species lives in a variety of biotopes, such as rough grasslands, flowery edges of forests and heathlands, dikes and gardens. The European peacock is often spotted between the end of March and the beginning of June, and from mid-June to the end of August.
Appearance
Life cycle
The European peacock stays in the egg for 5 to 14 days. When the European peacock hatches from the egg, this butterfly species is still a caterpillar. The caterpillar lives for 15 to 30 days, after which the caterpillar will pupate. The pupation lasts for 10 to 16 days. If the European peacock does not hibernate, it will live for 25 to 60 days. An overwintered European peacock lives for 280 to 360 days as a butterfly.
Host plants and nectar plants
Host plants are special plants on which butterflies, such as the European peacock, lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat from those plants. In this way, the caterpillars grow until they are large and strong enough to change into butterflies. This is why host plants are essential for the survival of butterfly species, because without host plants there are no caterpillars and therefore ultimately no butterflies.
Each butterfly species has its own favourite plants. The European peacock uses the following host plants: Common nettle (Urtica dioica), Parietaria (Parietaria) and Small nettle (Urtica urens).
Most butterfly species, such as the European peacock, need nectar to survive. Butterflies get nectar from nectar plants. Nectar is a viscous fluid that comes from flowers. This fluid contains a lot of sugar, small amounts of proteins and vitamins. Nectar provides the energy that the European peacock needs to be able to fly.
The European peacock feeds on various nectar plants, such as Buddleja (Buddleja), Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus), Common ivy (Hedera helix), Lavender (Lavandula), Purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Field thistle (Cirsium arvense), Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and Wild carrot (Daucus carota).
If you want to help the European peacock, plant (some of) these plant species in your garden.
Caution with some plant species
The pollen of the Small nettle (Urtica urens) can cause an allergic reaction. The plant is not poisonous.
All parts of the Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) are poisonous to humans.
Common ivy (Hedera helix) contains berries that are poisonous to humans. Ingestion of the berries causes a rash, fever, vomiting, stomach ache and a drowsy feeling.
The berries of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) are not very poisonous. If you ingest less than 10 berries, it is sufficient to drink some water.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is poisonous and causes liver damage when ingested. In addition, this plant is also carcinogenic when ingested.
The flowers, leaves and roots of the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are edible. However, the stems are not.
