THE WHITE PEACOCK
The White Peacock is one of Florida’s most charming—and often overlooked—butterflies. Despite its delicate appearance, this small butterfly is a tough little survivor, thriving in Florida’s warm, sunny climate. With its creamy-white wings marked by brown lines and distinctive eyespots, the White Peacock is easy to recognize once you know what to look for. When perched, it often holds its wings open, displaying those eye-like markings that may help confuse or deter predators.
White Peacocks are especially common around wetlands, marshes, ponds, ditches, and other damp areas, where their caterpillar host plants grow. They are frequently seen fluttering low to the ground, stopping often to sip nectar from flowers.
Florida’s long growing season allows White Peacocks to be active for much of the year. Their caterpillars feed primarily on plants in the water hyssop family, while adults visit a variety of flowering plants for nectar.
Although small and sometimes easy to miss, the White Peacock is a wonderful example of Florida’s remarkable backyard biodiversity. The next time you see a little white butterfly fluttering along a wetland or garden edge, take a closer look—you may have just met one of Florida’s most delightful residents.
