Buckeye Butterfly by Leeco

Photography • Insects • posted on Aug 22, 2008

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Description

Nikon 7900 pocket camera, hand-held image. This is one of the very first Butterfly species I ever was able to identify. They are pretty common in my area and the markings are quite distinctive. This is another image from October of last year. Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies) Family Nymphalidae (Brushfooted Butterflies) Subfamily Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc.) Genus Junonia Species coenia (Common Buckeye) Adult wingspan is 39-68mm. Larva to 45mm long. Upper side is brown. Fore wing with 2 orange cell bars and 2 eyespots; part of white sub-apical band appears in the largest, lower eyespot. Hind wing has 2 eyespots; upper one is largest and contains a magenta crescent. Underside of hind wing is brown or tan in the wet season (summer) form and rose-red in the dry season (fall) form. Caterpillar is highly variable in color, but usually "mostly black above and white and/or orange along sides with metallic blue-black dorsal spines. Spines along sides arise from orange wart-like bases. Head orange above with black bordering frons; short black scolus over each lobe...heavily salted with white tubercles”. Resident in the southern United States and north along the coasts to central California and North Carolina; south to Bermuda, Cuba, Isle of Pines, and southern Mexico. Adults from the south's first brood migrate north in late spring and summer to temporarily colonize most of the United States and parts of southern Canada. Caterpillar hosts: Plants from the snapdragon family including snapdragon (Antirrhinum), toadflax (Linaria), and Gerardia; the plantain family including plantains (Plantago); and the acanthus family including ruellia (Ruellia nodiflora). Adult food: Favorite nectar sources are composites including aster, chickory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Dogbane, peppermint, and other flowers are also visited. Males perch during the day on low plants or bare ground to watch for females, flying periodically to patrol or to chase other flying insects. Females lay eggs singly on leaf buds or on upper side of host plant leaves. Caterpillars are solitary and eat leaves. Caterpillars and adults over winter but only in the south. Thanks to those who take the time to comment. Lee

Comments (22)

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praep

1:00AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Great macro. And interesting infos about the butterflies this week. Thanks for sharing, Lee.

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ledwolorz

1:25AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Fantastic macro.

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flora-crassella

1:34AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

....grandioses Macro von diesem schönen Augenfalter!

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durleybeachbum

1:43AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Super shot and a very colourful insect. I shall have to increase my golden rod stock!

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carinatiefenthaler

1:59AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Excellent macro!

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Mousson

4:09AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

fantastic macro shot ...

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Mondwin

4:15AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Superbly Macro!!!!!!!!!bravissimo!:DDD.Hugsxx

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bpclarke

4:34AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

What a beauty! Splendid capture. All those fine details. Superbly done. Bunny

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JeffG7BRJ

7:26AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Even with tiny bits missing from the wings, it is still a beautiful little critter, mother nature has been busy with her paintbrush. The symmetry of the markings aways amazes me. Excellent macro. Bravo!!!!!

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MrsRatbag

8:33AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Great shot!

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magg_ca

10:12AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Wonderful shot

MrsLubner

10:23AM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Wonderful look at the colors and patterns. So many eyes on the wings! I see it has a bit of irredescence in the body that catches my eye. Super shot!

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GBCalls

4:24PM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Excellent, not one I have seen here. Well done!

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NightGallery

5:05PM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Another winner. Never see these out here in Cal. Great shot.

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RobyHermida

5:25PM | Fri, 22 August 2008

Splendid capture.

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skyla824

8:01PM | Fri, 22 August 2008

superb macro work.... this is perfection at its best... lovely subject and nice contrast with the flowers. this focus is right on the money. dof adds a lots to this as well... this is my first time view for this little fellow

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