The peacock butterfly gets its name from the large high spots on its wings which are reminiscent of the spots on the peacock's tail. These butterflies have predominantly red up her wings with a large high that is yellow and purple and black markings. The lower wings are also read them they have a blue eyes spot which is surrounded with a white ring.

This butterfly is from most of the temperate parts of Europe and Asia and likes to drink the nectar from thistles, sedium and buddleja and even sometimes fruit that has become overripe and fallen to the ground. The caterpillars eat Hops and nettles so the female butterfly leaves the eggs in these plants to have a ready supply of food when the eggs hatch into larva. This butterfly only has one generation each year and the adults hibernate throughout the winter anyplace they can find a good hiding spot including houses, hollow trees and stonewalls. The caterpillar of this butterfly is black with white spots and has black spines sticking out from its back. It can grow up to 40 mm long.

The peacock butterfly, whose scientific name is Inachis Io (European Peacock), belongs to the Nymphalida family. It is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 2 1/2 inches. Many times these butterflies will hibernate over the winter in large groups and in the females will lay their eggs, up to 500 at a time in the spring.