I used to see butterflies like these fairly often in our yard and out in the vineyard. I haven't seen one in quite a while now. I hope it's just because I've been going out with my camera less frequently over the past 10 years, and especially since 2020. I took these photos between 2007 and 2012.
This butterfly is called le paon-du-jour in French. Paon means peacock, and the butterfly is called the European Peacock, or just the peacock butterfly, in English. It has a wingspan of about two inches. Wikipedia calls it a "relatively common" butterfly — even though it seems less common around here these days. The Wikipedia article says it hibernates over winter before laying batches of up to 400 eggs.
Butterfly numbers, Ken, have fallen drastically [over 50%] since you took these.... the reasons are too complex to go into here, but a major problem has been a new general agricultural mindset driven by pressure from the supermarkets for cheaper and cheaper goods to sell to us.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we as gardeners, are way tooo toooo toooooo "propre"... most butterflies' caterpillars feed on weeds... in the case of the Peacock, it is stinging nettles and gardeners go out of their way to erradicate nettles.... but we are being encouraged to "grow flowers for the butterflies" which encourages them into our gardens for the nectar and our enjoyment.... but we are not giving them the caterpillar food plants... so there is no where to lay the 400 eggs!!
Beautiful pictures, Ken, thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see one of those beauties!
ReplyDeleteThis butterfly is just beautiful. Never seen anything like it.
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