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Common Buckeye

Junonia coenia

The Common Buckeye butterfly has big, beautiful eyespots on its wings. It loves to flutter around gardens and fields.

Habitat: Fields and gardens

Appearance

The Common Buckeye has large, distinctive eyespots on its wings, especially noticeable on its hindwings, which help confuse predators. Its wings are primarily dull brown, tan, and orange, with bright orange bars and white markings near the eyespots.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusJunonia
Common Buckeye
wildlife trait badgecamouflaged trait badgegrassland trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Common Buckeye

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

116

Interesting facts

Common Buckeyes love sunshine; they bask to warm their flight muscles before taking off.

Some Common Buckeyes fly thousands of miles south for winter, just like birds do!

The colors on their wings are made of tiny scales, like roof tiles, creating their patterns.

Their caterpillars are spiky! These spines make them look unappetizing to hungry birds.

Special abilities

Ability

Eye-Spot Illusion

Common Buckeye has large 'eyespots' on its wings that trick predators into thinking it's a bigger animal or scare them away.

Ability

Super Sipper

Common Buckeye can unfurl a straw-like tongue called a proboscis to sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers.

Ability

Foot Taster

Common Buckeye has special sensors on its feet that help it taste leaves to find the perfect place to lay eggs.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
50-65 mm
Size
20-30 mm
Lifespan
10-20 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various plant leaves to grow big and strong.

Age differences: Yes, larvae eat plant leaves while adults only drink nectar from flowers.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Plantain leaves
  • Snapdragon leaves
  • Toadflax leaves

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Feeds on adult butterflies.

Eats

Narrowleaf Plantain

Plantago lanceolata

Larvae feed on the leaves.

Eats

Common Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Caterpillars eat the foliage.

Pollinates

Dense Blazing Star

Liatris spicata

Adults visit flowers for nectar.

Traits

Also known as

Buckeye Butterfly

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Buckeye?

Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

What is Common Buckeye's wingspan?

50-65 mm

How big is Common Buckeye?

20-30 mm

How long does Common Buckeye live?

10-20 days

What does Common Buckeye eat?

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various plant leaves to grow big and strong.

Where is Common Buckeye usually found?

Fields and gardens

How does Common Buckeye hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Common Buckeye have?

6

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