Small Peacock Butterfly

Dazzlingly elegant. The Small Peacock Butterfly (Saturnia pavonia) can be considered a typical species of Calluna-Heiden although it can also be found in other habitat types. The short-lived butterflies, they only live for a few days, are mainly active during the day and the males can be seen flying from the beginning of April. The flightless females initially stay in one place after hatching and emit pheromones that can be detected by searching males from several kilometers away. The females are often besieged by the first males while they are still hatching and are immediately mated after hatching. Only after the first egg-laying do the nocturnal females begin to fly longer distances to deposit the rest of their eggs in more distant places.