spiralsheep: Flowers (skywardprodigal Cog Flowers)
Humph ([personal profile] spiralsheep) wrote in [community profile] common_nature2012-08-21 11:25 am

UK: Peacock butterfly, Inachis io

At tai chi, which my group practice outside, we were outnumbered by peacock butterflies (Inachis io), who flew around us and occasionally perched on us, so when we'd finished I grabbed my camera and chased them through the buddleia. The one I capped, probably a male, is this year's adult but has already faded from its brightest red and metallic blue. Adult wingspan is about 6.5 to 7cm (so the images on this page are about lifesize). The larvae/caterpillars are generally black and always spiky. More details and images here @ ukbutterflies.

Red peacock butterfly, with eyed wings, on pink and green buddleia bush, 1

Red peacock butterfly, with eyed wings, on pink and green buddleia bush, 2

The butterfly's long tongue is visible reaching down inside the buddleia blossom in the next cap.

Red peacock butterfly, with eyed wings, on pink and green buddleia bush, 3

Red peacock butterfly, with eyed wings, on pink and green buddleia bush, 4
carolyn_claire: (Pretty leaf)

[personal profile] carolyn_claire 2012-08-21 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucy you, to share your practice with such beautiful butterflies! Lovely pics.
firefly99: A perfect fluffy yellow duckling sitting on a piano, quacking (duckie)

[personal profile] firefly99 2012-08-21 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I love how peacock butterflies have four wing eyes. If it was two eyes, fine, but nothing in nature has four eyes. You'd think something would see through their cunning disguises.
thnidu: cat staring out at you, photoshopped into wild colors (Pow Wow cat)

[personal profile] thnidu 2012-08-22 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
They are lovely, thank you!

But "Adult wingspan is about 6.5 to 7cm (so the images on this page are about lifesize)." Doesn't that depend on one's screen size and pixel count?
lark_ascends: Blue and purple dragonfly, green background (Default)

[personal profile] lark_ascends 2012-08-25 10:45 am (UTC)(link)
Beautiful!!