European peacock; Mariposa pavo real

Description:

Very spectacular butterfly (6cm wingspan) with large blue ocella surrounded by yellow and black that looks like an eye at each one of its wings. The rest of the anverse wing side is intense red, with black spots on the anterior edge of the front wings and a gray border in the four wings. The underside of the wings is almost black, crossed by faint clearer lines. The reason for these colors and contrasts has been explained by specialists as a multiple method of defense. First, when it rests showing wings folded vertically, it tries to go unnoticed, merging with the surroundings (logs, for example). If this strategy fails, it does not hesitate to launch the second method of defense, when, before the attack an eventual attack of a predator, it opens the wings showing their large ocelli generating a state of confusion in the latter for a few small moments , while the Inachis which take advantage to escape. Even so, if all of the previous strategy had failed, and the insect is finally attacked by a bird, for example, the ocelli are the object of such attack and not the body, limiting the damages. Therefore the defense strategy consists of three stages: mimetism-surprise-flight. It is common in Europe in all types of habitats: grasslands, clear forests, even in parks and gardens in cities. It flies between June and September, in general below 2000 metres of altitude. The caterpillars are black, finely dotted white and black spiked. They are great eaters of nettles (Urtica dioica), incorporating formic acid to the circulatory system, which provides a magnificent method of defense, since it gives them bad taste.

Habitat:

Spotted at a pine tree forest in the mountains. Parque Nacional de Sierra de Guadarrama

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.; f/8; ISO Speed Rating: 200. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired.