Aglais io

Today's the day ........................ to threaten

The flowering sedums  in the garden are buzzing with insects of all kinds just now - including this unmistakable Peacock butterfly.

My Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe, says that it is impossible to confuse this butterfly with any other - so that's good.  It'll be those quite spectacular 'eyes' on the upperside of the hindwings that give it its name and put it in a class of its own. The 'eyes' must appear very threatening to predators, such as birds or mice, that confront this butterfly head-on.  As you can see here, the body seems to form a sort of 'beak' between the 'eyes' and suddenly it looks like something a lot bigger and frightening.

I wonder who came up with that brainwave of an idea ......................?