InsectNet forum

Here is another "dandy" of a species which I have spoken
of in the past. The Buckeye butterfly is really quite unique
for its eyespots and variable appearance.

This species is found statewide here (Illinois) and is best
found in rural locales outside of cities and suburbs. Sometimes,
a long stretch of railway track or neglected ramparts also provide
a visitor a glimpse of this little marvel.

It is one of our "transient" species -- in that it cannot survive the cold
temperatures of an Illinois winter. So, it migrates to areas of the
U.S. further south in the fall. Come springtime, it works its way
northward eventually re-populating the region and having several broods.

This very energetic, charismatic butterfly is always something that
I treasure finding. Surprisingly, most that I encounter are left alone
due to chippage or general wear but, hit-it "just right" and it's game on !

Below, I show a recently collected pair for your viewing pleasure.
As, you can see the wing structure and angles differ between the sexes
and females are usually larger with more pronounced eyespots.



This is a very desirable species to make a series of if possible as so
much variation of colors/markings exist within the species. Its natures
little artist's palette.

Junonia in Thailand feed on species of Acanthaceae. Do the US species also feed on the same family of plants?

Adam.

Although common, it's one of my favorites. I can't resist capturing them. Is that styrofoam the specimens are pinned to?

58chevy wrote: ↑Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:23 am Although common, it's one of my favorites. I can't resist capturing them. Is that styrofoam the specimens are pinned to?

I think it looks like the bottom of a takeout box. I had no idea the species was so widespread, I haven't seen one in years, I seem to remember capturing them in desert on the way to Reno on family trips, a lot easier when Dad drove and pulled the trailer-

adamcotton wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:37 pm Junonia in Thailand feed on species of Acanthaceae. Do the US species also feed on the same family of plants?

Adam.

I'm not sure what they're normal choice would be in the wild, but in captivity I've reared them on Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).

We don't see a lot of buckeye's here in Ontario, but as Trehopr1 pointed out, hit it just right and you can have quite the bonanza. I made a 3 hour drive last week to Port Burwell, Ontario as the buckeyes seem to be on the waterfronts here in Ontario. A friend had been to a spot a few days prior and said he had seen about 30 buckeyes. Well that was good enough for me, we made the return trip and I can safely say we saw well in excess of 100, and many were fresh specimens. I collected 30 fresh ones, different sizes and forms, the best buckeye collecting I have ever had.

And as a bonus, there were lots of C. eurytheme, another of my favourites. Beautiful fresh females, light orange, dark orange, and everything in between. And my favourites, the deep orange with very thick black borders. I would post pictures but the eurythemes and buckeyes are all on the boards. Just when you think the season is over, its not.