Butterfly

[Bacchus]

I've put this in the pest section because I suppose they are a pest but this one that I caught today in the polytunnel looks quite pretty.

It's apparently a peacock butterfly and I can't recall seeing one here before.

[veggiechicken]

I don't think its a pest so I'm moving this to Wildlife gardening!
Luvly photo, Bacchus

[Bacchus]

Thanks - I just took it outside and let it be on it's way. It must be the general warm weather that's letting this type get more northwards

[WPG]

I'm really heartened to see that Bacchus - in sunnier years I've seen the occasional peacock and red admiral here, but not this year so far. Will keep my eye out for any peacocks

[Martin H]

Nice to see! It looks nice and fresh, it must be one of the first to emerge this year.
I saw a few in early spring that had survived the winter; hopefully they laid their eggs and the 2016 batch will be out here soon too.
Their caterpillars will only eat nettles or sometimes hops, so they aren't a pest for most of us.

[Snoop Puss]

That's a proper beauty.

[Ryez]

I saw one also, it was flying over the garage. Very pretty, I was wondering what is called.

[cheops]

Hi Bacchus - I'm in Co.Down too. Peacock butterflies are here in co Down ok, perhaps you just haven't noticed them. There is a large bed of nettles on the other side of my garden and last year I noticed hundreds of the black caterpillars of the peacock butterfly munching away at the nettles. I took a photo of them and photos of peacock butterflies anytime I saw them resting on a flower in the garden. I have the photos somewhere on the computer. Sadly so far this year I haven't saw one peacock nor any caterpillars on the nettles.

[WPG]

I saw my first peacock of the year today, sunning itself on buddliea. It looked very bright and new, think it must be quite young. Very pleased to see it - bearing in mind what Martin said, I've left a clump of nettles for them.

[roitelet]

A wryneck that I rescued from one of the cats and put in a cat box to recover. Pleased to say it flew away happily.

[Marb67]

I have not seen a single Peacock butterfly for 2 years now and I used to see them all the time. Just cabbage white in my garden and a very small blue.

[Gillykat]

I have a couple of Buddlia shrubs on my allotment and I've noticed a few Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies over the past few days. It's only been whites for quite a few weeks so I think these butterflies could be possibly newly emerged ones

[Bal]

Can I get peacock butterfly caterpillars any where I have such a problem with nettles that I am actually thinking about chemical warfare!!!