Characteristics and Behavior:
The White Peacock Butterfly has a wingspan of 2 to 2.5 inches and features a white color with black, orange, and brown markings. This species will sometimes appear to have a light blue hue to the upper wings. The underside of its wings is light brown with small white spots. The butterfly's flight is erratic, and it often hovers in place while searching for nectar. The males of this species can be distinguished from females by the presence of a black scent gland on the hindwing.
Habitat:
- The White Peacock Butterfly is found in the southern United States, Central America, and South America.
- It prefers to live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens where it can easily find nectar from flowers.
- The butterfly is also known to inhabit disturbed areas such as roadsides and agricultural land.
Lifecycle:
- The White Peacock Butterfly goes through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
- The eggs are small and white and are laid singly on the underside of leaves.
- The larvae are black with white spots and feed on various plants in the Acanthaceae family.
- The pupa stage lasts for about two weeks before the adult emerges.
- The entire lifecycle can take about 30 days, but it can vary depending on environmental conditions.
Fun Facts:
- The White Peacock Butterfly is also known as the "Peacock Butterfly" or the "Jatropha Butterfly".
- The butterfly has a unique defense mechanism where it will play dead when threatened by predators.
- The White Peacock Butterfly is not toxic, but it mimics the colors and patterns of other toxic butterflies to deter predators.
