Inachis io

Peacock caterpillar (Inachis io, sin. Nymphalis io). Popular and well-known European colorful butterfly. Can be found either in woods or fields, meadows or pastures, anywhere from lowlands up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet) elevation. Peacock caterpillar lays its eggs in early spring. The caterpillars are some 42 mm long, shiny black with six rows of barbed spikes and a series of white dots on each segment. Adult butterflies drink nectar from a wide variety of flowers, tree sap and rotten fruit is also fine and jummy by them. Defence siystem of this butterfly is rather pragmathic: When still, it resembles tree leaves. Feeling in danger, butterfly suddenly opens its wings, so the "eyes" on the upper side of the wings became visible. he also produces sort of hiss like sound. Zoologic examination showed that "eyes" atop of the wings are the most effective part of defence system, as to predators they look like eyes of some larger animal. Major enemy of Inachis io, however, are flies Sturmia bella and Phryxe vulgaris, as they like to parasite and feed with his caterpillars. Peacock caterpillar is easiest to be found and photographed next to the nettle (Urtica dioica). Winter generation operates March-April, whilst summer edition flies around June-September