Common Buckeye
November 2024
The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is a medium-sized brushfooted butterfly that is widespread in New Jersey occuring in all counties and can appear from late January all the way through December.
August 2019
They are fast flyers and can be difficult to track as they zoom across the ground. Many times I’ll find them moving about patches of white clover and then basking in the sun for stretches. They also love goldenrod!!
September 2016
Note the prominent “eyespots” on both the forewing and hindwing which are a definitive field mark for the Common Buckeye and can even be seen when the butterfly is in flight. The largest are outlined with black, yellow, and orange and have beautiful purple or blue shiny scales in the center!!
November 2016
Awesome orange stripes at the top of the forewings are also a very helpful identifier. The underside of the hindwing can vary greatly and in the fall migrants, many ventral hindwings are solid pink!! (called “Rosa” form)
September 2019
Common Buckeyes are one of the most charismatic of all species you’ll find in New Jersey and are always fun to observe and photograph.
August 2019
August 2019
