The weather is glorious at the moment here in my part of the world; granted I’m spending most of the time (like everyone else should be) inside, but I do take the opportunity to go out and go on a small nature walk most days; I just try and avoid people like the plague (no pun intended). I actually felt the warmth of the sun today for the first time this year. And you know what else did? Today’s subject, actually my second one of the year, a butterfly, namely…
What: Peacock Aglais (Inachis) io (Linnaeus, 1758)
When: 22nd March 2020
Where: Jackson’s Brickworks Nature Reserve, Cheshire, UK
Who saw it? Me
How was it recorded? On the iRecord app.
Is it bigger than a blackbird? Obviously not, it’s a butterfly, although a large one by UK standards.
What is it? A very familiar butterfly in Britain. Overall it looks dull red on top with a black-looking underside but on closer inspection it is more exotic looking on that. It has four ‘eyes,’ one on each wing, the ones on the fore-wings are mother of pearl coloured on a black background with ‘irises’ on those on the hind-wings are light blue and look more abstract. These eyes are used as a defence against predators. They overwinter as adults (butterflies overwinter as caterpillars and eggs mostly, but a few of the larger species overwinter as adults) and are therefore one of the first species to be seen in spring when they awake from their torpor. Their caterpillars form a communal web amongst nettles and can be irritating to touch.
A fact I have learned about this species: The scientific species name of A. io is named directly after the Greek goddess Io, who was the daughter of Inachus, whom the old genus name of Inachis was named.
Is it charismatic in my opinion? Yes. I think the fact I have struggled to photograph them is proof. They never seem to sit still! They know you’re coming, always! They are a true and obvious sign that winter is over and that alone is enough for a yes in my humble opinion.
A Species a Day 