@nick_h
Sarasota, FL
Anartia jatrophae
White Peacock Butterfly
The primary subject is identified as a White Peacock butterfly based on the distinct pattern on its dorsal wings. Key features visible include the whitish-gray ground color, a large, prominent eyespot on each hindwing, and two eyespots on each forewing. The scalloped wing margins and overall pattern are characteristic of Anartia jatrophae. The geographic location of the observation in Florida, where this species is common, further supports this identification.
Overview
Anartia jatrophae, the white peacock, is a species of butterfly found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and throughout much of South America. The white peacock's larval hosts are water hyssop, lemon bacopa, tropical waterhyssop, frogfruit, lanceleaf frogfruit, and Carolina wild petunia . The males of the species display a unique territorial behavior, in which they stake out a territory typically 15 meters in diameter that contains larval host plants. They perch in this area and aggressively protect it from other insects and other male white peacocks.
Read sourceObservation
Location
Sarasota, FL
Observed
October, 9:11 AM
Weather
Clear, 72F
Shared
October 13, 2026
Also known as
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Anartia