The Peacock butterfly's wings are reddish-brown on top with distinctive 'false eye' markings. It can be seen at the end of July to August. It hibernates over winter before laying its eggs in early spring, in batches of up to 500 at a time. The caterpillars, which are shiny black with six rows of barbed spikes and a series of white dots on each segment, hatch after about a week and feed on nettles and hops.