Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is a real visual treat if you can manage to get close enough to take a long look. This fast-flying brown butterfly has beautiful patches of burnt orange and gorgeous eyespots that help to protect them from predators. A flash of these eyespots is often enough to be recognized by a predators as "the big scary eyeball of something big enough to attack me!" which sends most birds or lizards off in search of something that doesn't stare back.

Females lay their small pearly green eggs on the leaves of figworts and plantains, including the common yard weed Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). They will also eat ruellia species, including Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) and Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittonia).

The larvae have tubercles topped with branching spines that deter predators but are not dangerous to humans. When disturbed, these caterpillars will curl into a ball (spiky side out, of course) and drop from their host plant.

The Common Buckeye chrysalis is quite small, which is to be expected since the adult wingspan is only 2.5 - 3 inches or so. It is brown and inconspicuous so as to blend in with its surroundings.

Here in Central Florida, the Common Buckeye is a spring visitor, spending time here before spreading north as the temperatures rise. They are also seen occasionally in the fall, as they move south for the winter months. As our winters become warmer, we have noticed fewer of these butterflies showing up each year, and it will be interesting to see the effect climate change has on the range of this species in the years ahead.