- Buckeye Butterfly Coloration, Markings and Size. The Common Buckeye butterfly ( Junonia coenia) is brown above. The forewing features two orange bars and two large black eyespots outlined in orange.
- Nectar and Host Plants Used by the Common Buckeye. The favorite host plants of the Buckeye include snapdragon, gerardia, false foxglove, monkey flowers, plantains, ruellia and others.
- Common Buckeye Butterfly Life Cycle Stages and Times
- Photos of the Common Buckeye Butterfly
What do buckeye butterflies eat?
Adult butterflies feed on flowers with certain pollinator cues: yellow flowers that are 'pre-change', or flowers whose color has not been changed due to insect visitation or other factors. Common buckeye caterpillars feed in isolation rather than relying upon grouping behaviors.
What is this buckeye butterfly drinking?
This Buckeye is drinking ‘fruit’ that is poisonous to many mammals. It is drinking from the pulp (fruit) around a Lantana seed. Male butterflies drink from ‘food’ sources that female butterflies ignore. This Buckeye is drinking from a rotting dead deer.
How do you identify a buckeye butterfly?
Female Buckeye butterflies are larger than males. They drink nectar from flowers with a short throat. Their proboscis isn’t long enough to reach the bottom of long tunnel shaped flowers. Buckeye butterflies lay eggs singly on their host plants. Unlike some butterfly species, Buckeye butterflies lay eggs on a wide variety of host plants.
What is the best way to feed butterflies?
The best way to feed butterflies in nature is to buy or create some sort of butterfly feeder. You can do this is several different ways, whether you want to hang a plastic water bottle full of food from a tree, or set a shallow plate with a base among your garden. Get crafty and make a desirable feeder to draw in as many butterflies as possible.
What flowers do buckeye butterflies like?
The favorite host plants of the Buckeye include snapdragon, gerardia, false foxglove, monkey flowers, plantains, ruellia and others. They can be found on a variety of nectar plants such as Zinnia, Butterfly Bush, Hydrangea, and others. Buckeyes also take fluids from mud and damp sand.
How do you raise a buckeye Caterpillar?
One option to raise buckeyes is to place host cuttings in a squat tub. Poke holes in your lid and replace host plant and frass roughly every day to every other day. This can be a practical method for raising a single buckeye larva where you don't mind babysitting your caterpillar frequently.
How do you attract buckeye butterflies?
You can help them thrive in the late summer and fall months by keeping plenty of nectar flowers in your garden. (They especially love the late-season asters.)
How long does a buckeye butterfly live?
Quick FactsDistribution/RangeAcross the southern parts of the United States and much of MexicoLifespan of adults6 to 20 daysHost plantsPlants from the snapdragon, plantain and acanthus familiesAdult dietFlower nectar (nectar plants include tickseed sunflower, aster, gumweed, knapweed, and chickory)1 more row
Are Buckeye butterflies poisonous?
This Buckeye is drinking 'fruit' that is poisonous to many mammals. It is drinking from the pulp (fruit) around a Lantana seed. Male butterflies drink from 'food' sources that female butterflies ignore.
Is Buckeye a moth or butterfly?
Junonia coenia, known as the common buckeye or buckeye, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in Mexico. Its habitat is open areas with low vegetation and some bare ground.
How do I care for my butterfly plant?
BUTTERFLY BUSH CAREButterfly bush need full sun. ... Butterfly bush need perfect drainage. ... Butterfly bush can grow in clay soil, but require a few special accommodations. ... Prune in spring, after the new growth emerges. ... But do prune your butterfly bush. ... Be patient. ... Don't overwater. ... Avoid fall planting.
How do I feed butterflies to my garden?
Butterfly adults generally feed only in the sun. If sun is limited in your landscape, try adding butterfly nectar sources to the vegetable garden. Plant for continuous bloom - Butterflies need nectar throughout the adult phase of their life span. Try to plant so that when one plant stops blooming, another begins.
What is the purpose for putting rocks in a butterfly garden?
Butterflies cannot drink directly from open water so it is a good idea to create “puddles” of moist sand or mud. Placing a few rocks or sticks in this "puddle" allows the butterflies to perch and drink. Rocks also provide a site where butterflies can bask to store body heat from the sun.
How long can butterflies live in captivity?
They can live for up to two weeks in your cage, but we recommend that you release them on the first nice day that comes along.
Do Buckeye butterflies migrate?
The butterfly regularly expands its range northward each year to temporarily colonize much of the U.S., occasionally reaching southern Canada. Starting in late summer and continuing through fall, huge numbers of adults migrate southward into peninsular Florida, where the adults overwinter.
Do butterflies live for one day?
What butterfly lives for 24 hours? The mayfly spends two years as larvae underwater but lives for only one day in their adult stage. It's one of the insects with the shortest life spans. A common misconception is that the fruit fly has the shortest life span and lives only a day, but it can actually live up to a month.
How do you keep a caterpillar alive in a jar?
To keep the caterpillar's food plant fresh, place the stems in a small jar of water. Fill any space between the stems and the lip of the jar with wadded paper towels or cotton balls to prevent your caterpillar from falling into the water and drowning. Put the jar with the food plant into the caterpillar jar.
How do you keep a caterpillar alive?
The basics that a caterpillar needs are fresh food from its specific host plant, safety from drowning in water, ventilation, and a safe place to pupate or become a chrysalis. While the caterpillars are eating and growing they will stay on the host plant as long as the food source remains.
How do I make a caterpillar habitat?
Creating a caterpillar habitat Try using cheesecloth or mesh over the top. Gather some leaves of the host plant you found your caterpillars on and put them in a large jar with some sticks for crawling on and some grass in the bottom of the jar. Caterpillars only like fresh leaves, so change them out daily.
How do you keep a caterpillar as a pet?
Avoid touching the caterpillar with your hands, because caterpillars are so fragile that you could harm them. Instead, gently place the leaf or stem into a container, such as a plastic jar or box. Take a few more stems or leaves from the plant your caterpillar was found on, and identify the plant for future reference.
How do you feed butterflies sugar water?
Make a solution of 3 teaspoons of sugar to 1 cup of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly to dissolve all the sugar. Use a dropper to soak a cotton ba...
How soon do butterflies need to eat?
Your butterfly probably won’t eat for the first 24 hours after it emerges from its chrysalis, but it should be ready to eat by the next day.
Can you keep butterflies as pets?
Butterflies need plenty of space to fly around, so it’s usually better to release them into the wild a few days after they emerge (as long as they...
Where do buckeyes get their fluids from?
They can be found on a variety of nectar plants such as Zinnia, Butterfly Bush, Hydrangea, and others. Buckeyes also take fluids from mud and damp sand.
What butterfly has two orange bars?
The Common Buckeye butterfly ( Junonia coenia) is brown above. The forewing features two orange bars and two large black eyespots outlined in orange. The hindwing has two eyespots, with the upper one being the largest and containing a magenta crescent.
Can buckeyes live in freezing temperatures?
It cannot live in freezing temperatures, but moves quickly northward in the spring to most of the United States and south Canada. The population swells in the fall during the southward migration. Common Buckeye nectaring on Hydrangea.
What do buckeye caterpillars eat?
Buckeye caterpillars are solitary and mostly feed on the weed plantain and on Gerardia, grown for its showy flowers. It also feeds on snapdragon, toadflax and other native weeds. Buckeye butterflies visit numerous weedy and ornamental flowers.
Why are buckeye butterflies called buckeye butterflies?
The buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, is one of the brushfooted butterflies, so called because the front legs are brush-like appendages. These butterflies stand on the second and third pairs of legs and appear to have only four legs because the "brushes" are usually folded neatly against the thorax. They are named for their conspicuous eyespots especially on the hind wings. Females lay eggs singly on their host plants. The caterpillars of the brushfooted butterflies are covered with spines and most of them are dark. This insect overwinters as adults and caterpillars. The chrysalis does not seem to be a resting (diapausing) stage. We have several generations per year in North Carolina.
Can you control buckeye caterpillars?
Because plantain is not a particularly desirable plant in the landscape, should buckeye caterpillars be noticed on it, no control seems necessary. When buckeye caterpillars are found causing actual damage to snapdragon or Gerardia, use Sevin or some other insecticide labeled for use in the landscape.
Description
Common buckeye butterflies are colored mostly brown with some orange, black, white, blue, and magenta. The forewing features two proximal orange bars and a postmedian white band, which surrounds a prominent black eyespot and borders a smaller, more distal eyespot; both eyespots have a bluish center and each border a distal orange mark.
Phylogeny
Junio probably arose from one African colonizing ancestor. In Asia, this diverged into J. atlites, J. iphita, and J. hedonia that resembled the African ancestor. These species then diverged into J. almanac, J. lemonias, and J. villida that began to differ morphologically from African ancestors.
Food resources
Caterpillars feed on a variety of plants including the narrowleaf plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ), the common greater plantain ( Plantago major ), blue toadflax, false foxglove, Mexican petunia ( Ruellia species), the firecracker plant, and Cudweed .
Parental Care
In the process of oviposition, contact chemoreception is an important sense used to detect allelochemicals on individual leaves that promote or discourage oviposition. Females detect iridoid glycosides found in plants like P. lanceolata as oviposition cues.
Social behavior
Caterpillars tend to feed individually and in isolation. For example, even in the case that multiple caterpillars are feeding upon the same plant, they will not be doing so cooperatively or based in a group dynamic.
Migration
Common buckeyes move to the south along with tailwinds directed to the north or northwest after the cold fronts from September or October. They are sensitive to the cold and cannot spend the winter in northern regions that will experience extreme cold temperatures. However, they will migrate back from the south during the spring.
Enemies
Predators for these organisms include ants, wasps, birds, and small animals. Predators appear to select larvae that feed on artificial diets deprived of iridoid glycoside (iridoid glycoside poor) rather than those that consume organic leaf material (iridoid glycoside rich larvae), which may indicate the role of iridoid glycoside consumption.
How long does a buckeye larva last?
The larval stage of the buckeye lasts anything between two and four weeks. The caterpillar can attain a length of up to 1.5 inches. It has orange spots all over the body on a black base. They have spine-like structures protruding out of the body by their lengths. The spines appear blue towards the roots.
Where do buckeyes live?
(Junonia coenia) The Buckeye Butterfly is a species of true brushfoot butterflies that are found in large numbers in parts of the US and Mexico. They get their name for their bright and colorful eye-like markings on each of their wings.
What color are butterfly wings?
Adult Butterfly. Color and Appearance: When the wings are open, the base coloration in all the four wings is brown. The primary wings display two cell bars in bright orange, as well as two eyespots, with the lower eyespot being the largest of all.
What do buckeye butterflies drink?
Buckeye butterflies also drink from fruit. This Buckeye is drinking ‘fruit’ that is poisonous to many mammals. It is drinking from the pulp (fruit) around a Lantana seed. Male butterflies drink from ‘food’ sources that female butterflies ignore. This Buckeye is drinking from a rotting dead deer.
Where are common buckeye butterflies found?
Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia. Common Buckeye butterflies are found in the southern half of the US and the eastern side of the northern half of the United States. There are two similar species. TheMangrove Buckeye Junonia genoveva is found in the southwestern United States and in the southern tip of Florida.
How long does it take for a buckeye butterfly to emerge?
In the middle of the summer, the adults emerge in about seven days. In late fall with temperatures dropping to the 40s at night, they take two weeks and sometimes longer to emerge as adults. A day after emerging, the butterflies will begin to drink flower nectar. Buckeye butterflies also drink from fruit.
Why are buckeye caterpillars smaller than other species?
Eggs are tiny. A hatchling Buckeye caterpillar is smaller than many other species simply because it must fit inside the egg before it hatches. In some areas of the US, Blue Toadflax is an annual that grows early in the spring.
What do caterpillars eat?
Caterpillars eat several species of Plantain. Occasionally caterpillars have eaten Philippine Violet and, in captivity, eaten all the leaves on and pupated on one type of Butterfly Bush, Buddleia sp. They have been seen eating Lantana on occasion. Each of these unusual host plants were actually eaten.
When do buckeye caterpillars molt?
When the caterpillar grows too large for its cuticle, it will molt. Underneath the old cuticle is a larger baggy cuticle. Buckeye caterpillars molt four times before they hang in a J to pupate. Gardeners often worry when their caterpillars disappear off the host plant.
What are the host plants of a caterpillar?
Some of their host plants are Blue Toadflax, Plantain (Plantago species), False Foxglove, Mexican Petunia (Ruellia species), Firecracker, and Cudweed. Caterpillars are dark in color and eat alone. A caterpillar is often overlooked until one sees the leaf damage from a hungry caterpillar.
What are some good foods for butterflies?
Sweet, gooey foods are especially effective – the smellier and goopier, the better. For example, think mushy apples or overripe bananas mashed with a little molasses. Many butterflies also enjoy sliced oranges.
What is needed to grow a butterfly garden?
A successful butterfly garden requires an understanding of butterfly garden feeding, including beneficial food and water sources for butterflies.
How to make a butterfly pond?
Arrange some rocks in the pan so the butterflies have a place to land. Cut a kitchen sponge into various shapes and arrange the sponges between the rocks, or put one large sponge in the center of the plate. Keep the sponges damp so the water slowly seeps to keep the soil moist.
How to make a puddler for butterflies?
Here are a couple ways to create puddlers that butterflies will love. Spread a thin layer of dirt in the bottom of a shallow pie pan or dish.
Why are butterflies important to the garden?
Butterflies are fascinating creatures that bring an element of grace and color to the garden. They are also effective pollinators for a variety of trees and plants. Additionally, many butterfly types are endangered and via your butterfly garden, you’re doing your part to preserve these precious, winged beauties.
Do butterflies need a water feeder?
Butterfly Water Feeder (“Pu ddlers”) Butterfly water feeders really aren’t necessary to supply water and butterflies don’t need bird baths or ponds because they get the liquid they need from nectar. However, they need places to “puddle,” as “puddling” provides the critical minerals that butterflies require.
When do buckeyes come to Florida?
Here in Tampa, Florida, I usually see Common Buckeyes up through late June or early July, after which the population moves north to find a better crop of host plants for their caterpillars.
What butterfly attracts butterflies?
Attracting Butterflies: Common Buckeye. Jill Staake Updated: Apr. 24, 2020. Despite the name, the Common Buckeye is anything but ordinary. The eyespots make this brown butterfly a real attention-getter! A surprising number of species include the word “common” in their name, though the species itself is anything but ordinary.
What butterfly species are common?
One good example is the Common Buckeye ( Junonia coenia). The “common” in its name helps to distinguish it from the similar-looking Tropical Buckeye ( Junonia everete) and Mangrove Buckeye ( Junonia genoveva ). At first glance, this medium-sized butterfly may seem brown and commonplace, but a second look will bring the brilliant eyespots and orange accents to your attention.
Do Buckeyes migrate?
While Common Buckeyes don’t exactly migrate en masse like monarchs, they do shift their population center throughout the year.
Description
- Adult butterfly
Common buckeye butterflies are colored mostly brown with some orange, black, white, blue, and magenta. The forewing features two proximal orange bars and a postmedian white band, which surrounds a prominent black eyespot and borders a smaller, more distal eyespot; both eyespots … - Caterpillar
These caterpillars have a beautiful and complex color pattern. Their backs are mostly black with light-colored markings (white, gray, beige, or brownish, varying among individuals—see picture below), their sides have white markings and red-orange spots, and they have a brown underside…
Phylogeny
- Junio probably arose from one African colonizing ancestor. In Asia, this diverged into J. atlites, J. iphita, and J. hedonia that resembled the African ancestor. These species then diverged into J. almanac, J. lemonias, and J. villida that began to differ morphologically from African ancestors. The Taxon Pulse Hypothesis is invoked to explain the vicariance as well as dispersal exhibited b…
Food Resources
- Caterpillars
Caterpillars feed on a variety of plants including the narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata), the common greater plantain (Plantago major), blue toadflax, false foxglove, Mexican petunia (Ruellia species), the firecracker plant, and Cudweed. - Pollinator cues
In the case of Lantana camara flowers, J. coenia preferentially feed on flowers in the yellow stage at a significantly higher rate that suggests associative learning. During early life stages, the butterfly feeds upon yellow and red flowers almost equally but over time focuses only on those f…
Parental Care
- Oviposition
In the process of oviposition, contact chemoreception is an important sense used to detect allelochemicals on individual leaves that promote or discourage oviposition. Females detect iridoid glycosides found in plants like P. lanceolata as oviposition cues. Similarly, a mix of catalp…
Social Behavior
- Caterpillar sociality
Caterpillars tend to feed individually and in isolation. For example, even in the case that multiple caterpillars are feeding upon the same plant, they will not be doing so cooperatively or based in a group dynamic.Caterpillars are generally not aggressive: they do not mind each other's presenc…
Migration
- Common buckeyes move to the south along with tailwinds directed to the north or northwest after the cold fronts from September or October. They are sensitive to the cold and cannot spend the winter in northern regions that will experience extreme cold temperatures. However, they will migrate back from the south during the spring.
Enemies
- Predators
Predators for these organisms include ants, wasps, birds, and small animals. Predators appear to select larvae that feed on artificial diets deprived of iridoid glycoside (iridoid glycoside poor) rather than those that consume organic leaf material (iridoid glycoside rich larvae), which may in… - Virus
The densovirus Junonia coenia infects the common buckeye larvae by focusing on targeting dividing cells in order to propagate. It consists of single stranded DNA genomes with a smooth, sphere-shaped capsid. It is from the family Parvoviridae and has been considered a potential ins…
Physiology
- Gustation
In order to find a host plant for oviposition, females search for appropriate concentrations of catalpol or iridoid glycosides. Therefore, they practice drumming, which allows them to pierce the plant exterior and ‘taste’ the variety of allelochemicals that are present within its structure. This …
Protective Coloration and Behavior
- Automimicry
Larvae also appear to weakly adopt automimicryas a survival strategy. In the presence of caterpillars that have sequestered iridoids (making them unpalatable to predators) and those that have not sequestered iridoids (making them palatable to predators), unpalatable caterpillars are …
References
- Literature
1. "Bermuda Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia bergi)". Bermuda Department of Conservation Services. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016. 2. "Species Junonia coenia - Common Buckeye". BugGuide. Retrieved 18 November 2016. 3. Brock, Jim P.; K…