White Peacock Butterfly – Anartia jatrophae
The White Peacock is very limited in range to the tropics; much more so than its more well-known cousin, the Buckeye Butterfly. Peacocks are not strong fliers, and being less hardy, they remain a rarity outside their strongholds in south Texas and Florida.
Life Cycle: Eggs are pale yellow, laid on various host plants including ruellia and water hyssop. Caterpillars are black and spiny, with silver spots. Chrysalis green, darkening with age. The White Peacock flies year-round except in very cold weather.
Habitat: Swamps, watersides, shorelines, disturbed places.
Range: South Texas and South Florida. Strays north to Kansas and Massachusetts, also much of the tropics.
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Online since 2002