BUTTERFLY - Peacock

The Peacock buterfly (aglias io) is named after the way the eyes on its wings mirror those on the peacock's tail feathers. It is one of the most beautifully-patterned butterflies in northern ireland and, unusually for an exotic butterfly, it doesn't migrate to europe or africa in the winter.

Part of the reason it does so well in Northern Ireland and overwinters here is because its larvae mainly feed off a plant which is very common here; nettles.

This one was spotted reasting in the sun on one of our stone walls, beside an area of uncut grass.