Peacock of the day

The peacock of the day ( Nymphalis io Linnaeus 1758) is an insect Lépidoptère of the family of the Nymphalidé S, family best represented in France with 130 of species. It is sometimes named Inachis io Linnaeus 1758 of which it is the only one representing kind Inachis . It is a very common Bivoltin in all the moderated Eurasia, to Japan. One often meets the caterpillars on bushes of nettles of which they are nourished.

Description

Imago

The Peacock of the day is of intermediate size (between 5 and 6 centimetres of the end from one wing to another). It is easily identifiable by its Ocelle S (eye) sharp on a vermilion bottom which point out those of the feathers of Paon (from where its vernacular name). The sepia reverse wings enables him to slip within the dead sheets without it being visible. The ocelles ones are exposed when the butterfly is disturbed by a predator (such as a bird). This brutal demonstration of the glare of its wings accompanied by the touch by the open wings (which created a noise of whistle), frightens and pushes back the importunate one. Indeed, the open wings create the impression of a face of mammal such as a cat, and this discourages the predator long enough so that the Peacock of the day can escape.

After the coupling, the peacock of the day lays its eggs per series, to 500 individuals at the same time piled up with the reverse of the sheets of the feeder plant (mainly of the dioïque Ortie). These eggs are of pale color, energy of the yellow to the green

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are very variable according to their various stages. Just born, they do not exceed 3 Misters Their famous person black and luisante is disproportionate compared to their small white-greenish body. Gradually, the proportions balance and their coloring transfers with the brown green/. Lastly, they acquire to them Morphe final with knowing a black-brilliant dress decorated with thorny silk lines decorated of series of white points on each segment. At this stage, they reach hardly the centimetre but at the end of 4 weeks of an unrestrained voracity, they will be able to exceed the 4cm length. In spite of their aspect of " barbelé" , they are of a total harmlessness (nonirritant and nonwounding). In the long term, the caterpillar, hitherto gregarious and voracious, cease to feed and leave in wandering to research from a place for Nymphose R.

Chrysalis

After having found a support ideal, the caterpillar moors there by its last pair of leg and is let hang the upside down. In a little less than 2 days, the internal bodies of the caterpillar will be metamorphosed in Chrysalide. The body envelope then will be split dorsalement and will let it appear. In contact with the air, the chrysalis will harden and pigment. A metamorphosis quite as complex as the first then will proceed during approximately 2 weeks, the bodies of the adult insect substituent this time at those of the chrysalis. The skin which soon the chrysalis will form opens then ventralement, letting appear the Imago, final stage of the butterfly. Under the pressure of the Hemolymph circulating in the veins, the wings initially " fripées" will spread themselves little by little (about 5 to 10 min) and will gain in rigidity. The take-off will be done after the hardening of the teguments, and the elimination of the Méconium, liquid and more or less reddish organic waste.

Biology

Period of flight and hivernation

The Peacock of the day is Bivoltin or Univoltin of which the period of flight is spread out usually June at August. It enters in Diapause enters at the end of July and at the beginning of October. These dates are completely dependant on the conditions atmospheric. Inachis io with the characteristic to winter in an adult state. This finished period, it flies as of February/March in the zones where the climate allows him 2 generations (ormis in mountain where it has only one of them). , In these zones, a first spring generation will follow, which will give one second of it, at the same time estival and wintering, observable from August at May.

Plants hosts

On the continent, the larva of Peacock of the day affectionate particularly the dioïque Nettle and the hop whereas in the Mediterranean islands like Samos, it refers on the officinal Pariétaire, the Nettle being absent. The adults, as for them, butinent a large variety of nectars resulting from the kittens of Saules, Buddleia de David, of dandelions, of marjorams, elder tree yèble, Eupatoire chanvrine and of clover; they also use the sap of certain trees and the putrefied fruit.

Other Butterflies having for plant host of their larvae, the dioïque Nettle: the Vulcan (Vanessa atalanta), Vanesse of the thistle (Vanessa cardui), the Comma moth (Nymphalis C-album), the Geographical map (Araschnia levana)

Parasitism

Hyménoptère S (Ichneumonidé S, Tachinaire S or Sarcophagus S) can parasitize the caterpillars right before their nymphose in order to lodge and to nourish their respective larvae.

Ecology and Distribution

Contrary to good number of lépidoptères, it does not present variations geographical, or seasonal, from where a remarkable morphological stability on the unit of its surface. The Peacock of the day is widespread and common in the essence of Europe, of the South of the parallel 64° until the northern half of the Iberian peninsula, from 0 to 2500 m of altitude.

More precisely, it is present in Western Europe of the Scotland until the Sierra Nevada, in, center Eastern Europe of the Finland until the Turkey d' Europe and North of the Greece and Mediterranean island (generally with the top of 400 m). The mentions in the north of Scotland seems to be related to migrations. The Peacock of the day was announced one only time in the North-West of Africa, with Algiers in 1961.

Biotope

The Peacock of the day appreciates the parts discovered sunny of wood, timbered banks, wet meadows, fallow, waste grounds, sheltered small valleys bushy, up to 2500 m of altitude. The adults winter in dark and fresh places, such as hollow shafts, dense vegetations, heap of logs, cracks of rocks, barns…

Protection

This taxon is protected in Suisse (Cantons of Vaud and Schaffhouse)

Philately

This butterfly is reproduced on a emission of the island of Jersey of 1991 (facial value: 57 p.) like on another emission of Germany.

See too

Sources

Inachis io on Insectes.net, entomological pages of Andre Lequet
Stevens, Martin: The role off eyespots ace anti-predator mechanisms, principally demonstrated in the Lepidoptera, 2005
T. Tolman, R. Lewington, Guide of the butterflies of Europe and North Africa, Delachaux and Niestlé, 1999

Taxonomic references

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