Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io - Inachis io)
For me, this is the most beautiful and fascinating butterfly. The eye-spots makes this butterfly unmistakable! The undersides, which are sooty brown with little obvious pattern, provide excellent camouflage during hibernation. If this butterfly gets disturbed it will flash its eye-spots to scare potential enemies. The larval foodplant is Stinging Nettle.
A few years ago, it was August, about 20 caterpillars were walking in the grass looking for a suitable place to pupate. Of course I offered them some branches and Nettle. As the temperatures were high the wingcolour through the skin was visible after 10 days. Unfortunately I missed a lot of metamorphosises as I had to work.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Peacock Butterfly (Butterfly Gallery -> Nymphalidae).
A few years ago, it was August, about 20 caterpillars were walking in the grass looking for a suitable place to pupate. Of course I offered them some branches and Nettle. As the temperatures were high the wingcolour through the skin was visible after 10 days. Unfortunately I missed a lot of metamorphosises as I had to work.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Peacock Butterfly (Butterfly Gallery -> Nymphalidae).
Sequence 1: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 2: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 3: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 4: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 5: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 6: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)