Peacocks

Anartia

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Tribe: Victorinini
Genus: Anartia

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anartia: //æˈnɑːr.ti.ə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Anartia jatrophae in Caetité by André Koehne. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Anartia jatrophae MHNT by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Anartia jatrophae MHNT dos by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Anartia jatrophae MHNT ventre by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Mariposa pavo real blanca (Anartia jatrophae). by Pozaricaalnatural. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Anartia jatrophae-ventral by Peterwchen. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Anartia jatrophae, commonly known as the white peacock, is a butterfly known for its striking appearance and territorial behavior. It has several recognized subspecies and is commonly found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and parts of South America.

Physical Characteristics

The white peacock exhibits beautiful white and yellow-orange coloration on its wings, with a distinct wingspan that varies across individuals.

Identification Tips

Males can be identified by their unique territorial display behavior. Look for them perched near larval host plants, as they aggressively guard a territory.

Habitat

Found in various habitats including gardens, wetlands, and open areas in the southeastern United States, Central America, and South America.

Distribution

Present in the southeastern United States, Central America, and throughout much of South America, with specific subspecies found in regions from Florida to Argentina.

Diet

The larvae primarily feed on water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri), lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniensis), tropical waterhyssop (Bacopa innominata), frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), lanceleaf frogfruit (Phyla lanceolata), and Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniana).

Life Cycle

Details on the lifecycle stages, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult phases, are not provided in the available data.

Reproduction

Males defend territories to attract females, which lay eggs on suitable larval host plants.

Predators

Predators are not specifically mentioned in the provided data.

Ecosystem Role

The species plays a role in its ecosystem as a pollinator and as a part of the food web, serving as prey for various predators in its habitat.