The nymphalidae family.

Part one the peacock butterfly.(inachis io).

Among butterflies, the peacock has one of the longest life expectancies, with adults living for around eleven months (July-June). Named after the bird, due to the similarity of their eyed markings, it is one of our most striking and colourful butterflies, belonging to the same family (vanessids) as the comma, painted lady, small tortoiseshell and the red admiral. Adults feed on a range of nectar rich plants, including scabious, sedum, echinacea and teasel.  During  summer they are most likely to be seen feeding on buddleia, building up their fat reserves in order to survive hibernation. The black, spiny caterpillars feed on stinging and annual nettles. Adults emerge from late July onwards. In a good summer, this generation may go on to breed successfully before the end of the year, with a late emergence of new peacocks in October. These adults hibernate over winter and reappear in March and April, to mate. Females lay eggs on large nettles patches. Caterpillars build up communal webs over the growing tips, which they strip bare, before dispersing to fresh vegetation where they pupate. The peacock butterfly is a nomadic species, with adults travelling throughout the countryside, They`re also commonly found in gardens, parks and woodland. Bucking the trend of many UK butterflies, the peacock has fared well in recent years. Not only has it increased its range northwards into northern England and central Scotland, but populations have also increased in number. Its not yet known how the species has fared after this years wet weather.