Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed – and it’s a familiar backyard beauty

The peacock butterfly flew to first place in Butterfly Conservation’s poll. Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA

The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.

With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, the peacock butterfly is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.