The
European Peacock (
Aglais io), more commonly known simply as the
Peacock butterfly, is a colourful
butterfly, found in
Europe and temperate
Asia as far east as
Japan. Formerly classified as the only member of the
genus Inachis (the name is derived from Greek mythology, meaning
Io, the daughter of
Inachus). It should not be confused or classified with the "American peacocks" in the genus
Anartia; these are not close relatives of the Eurasian species. The Peacock butterfly is resident in much of its range, often wintering in buildings or trees. It therefore often appears quite early in spring. The Peacock butterfly has figured in research where the role of eye-spots as an anti-predator mechanism has been investigated. The Peacock is expanding its range and is not known to be threatened.