The Peacock is a British butterfly with a shape and colour-scheme to rival its tropical cousins. It is a a large butterfly, with 'eye' patterns on both fore and hind wings. The forewings are red, with black, yellow and white blotches, and a deep brown margin, with large eye spots of blue, yellow, white, brown and black. The hindwings are duller, being brown, reddish brown and dark brown, with eye spots of cream, black and blue. The forewing is narrow, with an angled point, and the lower wing is rounded at the top, so that there is a distinct gap between the two wings at the outer edge. The lower wings are longer than the body. On the wing, the butterfly sometimes gives the impression of being purple.
The Peacock feeds on nectar, and is particularly found in damp habitats where one of its favourites, Hemp Agrimony, is found, and it is also fond of Buddleja, Thistles and Ragwort. It settles with its wings open.
The larva is black with white dots and black spines. Its food plant is stinging nettle
