Peacock

Aglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)

Status

Description

A medium sized butterfly. The underside is a dark marbled colour with no obvious markings. The upperside is very distinctive, being  maroon with what look like two large “eyes”, one of each wing. If resting with its wings closed, the butterfly will flash these “eyes” if disturbed so as to deter or distract any potential predator. Males and females are similar.

Habitat Requirements

We know very little about the existance of this species in Corfu. Its possible that it is a local resident in the north eastern corner of the island.

Larval Foodplants

Nettle Urtica dioica, Hop Humulus lupulus, Eastern Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria officinalis.

Observations

Only the one sighting of this species has been made by CBC member David Cook. David recorded the butterfly on Mt Pantokrator 31 May 2019. Presumably a hill topping migrant.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Peacock submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2023 16/02/2023 19/07/2023 153 days
2021 02/03/2021 03/10/2021 215 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 14
2022 0
2021 6
Grand Total 20

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Peacock (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023 submitted online since 1st January 2023 to 22nd September 2023.

Flight Times for the Peacock (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month based on all data submitted online since 1st January 2019 to 22nd September 2023.

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Peacock
  • Family: Nymphalidae (Rafinesque, 1815)
  • Sub-family: Nymphalinae (Rafinesque, 1815)
  • Tribe: Nymphalini (Rafinesque, 1815)
  • Genus: Aglais (Dalman, 1816)
  • Species: io (Linnaeus, 1758)

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.