Chilly Butterfly

[Gracie]

I found this butterfly this morning on the floor of the out house, where the freezer and tumble dryer are housed, I lifted it and put it in a tray where it will be safe from spiders or being trod on, is it a Peacock and will it be ok there or should I try put it somewhere else.

Thank you

[Ferret]

Yes it is a Peacock Inachis io.

It will need a dry, cool, sheltered place to spend the winter, so an unheated out house, garage, hallow tree deep amongst ivy in a sheltered position are all good places the main thing is that it does not get to warm as it will then wake up and waste energy that it cannot replace, although saying that it does need easy access to the outside.

Ferret

[Naturenutz]

I am not sure if it make any difference but alot of buttterflies i see hibernating often rest attached to a vertical wall high up or often hang from a ceiling/roof.So i do not no if there is a preference on angle of rest.
Someone may know ? I am not sure if i have ever seen one hibernating upright,as in your tray.

[faz]

leave it in your shed /garage to over winter

[Gracie]

Thank you all for your help and advice it is a Peacock it opened it's wings for a moment just as I was checking on it, but as soon as I lean over the tub it shuts them and then falls over, are Peacocks one of the "playing dead" sort? I have been giving it some thought and a neighbour is cutting down some overgrown Ivy, and I wonder if it's been disturbed from there and ended up in our out house. We have a home made mezzanine floor where hubby keeps his special wood it's high up and dark, and cool too and away from any heat that may come from the motor on the freezer or the tumble dryer so I have put it, in it's tray up there it can stay in the tray or get onto any of the wood, we won't be touching it, the door to the outhouse is open most days during daylight and in spring and summer we will make sure it's open and check on the butterfly occasionally too.

Thank You Gracie

[Jim Ford]

It's always sad when you just find a pair of wings in shed, left from a predated butterfly.

Jim

[dickie'sbird]

I hope your butterfly enjoys a 'safe' winter....keep us posted!

Jean