Meadow Argus
Common NameMeadow Argus
Scientific NameJunonia villida
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, black, white
HabitatOpen grasslands, meadows, gardens, forest edges, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeAustralia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Cook Islands
Host PlantsPlantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Verbena bonariensis, Sida rhombifolia, Centaurium erythraea, Antirrhinum majus
Flight PeriodAll year in warmer climates; spring to autumn in cooler regions
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny, dark-colored caterpillars that feed on a variety of herbaceous plants. Pupation occurs as a chrysalis, often camouflaged, leading to the adult butterfly.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive large, orange-ringed black eyespots on both forewings and hindwings, especially the two prominent ones on the hindwings. The overall brown and orange coloration with a somewhat ragged wing margin is also characteristic.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with mottled brown and orange-brown wings, characterized by prominent orange and black eyespots ringed with white, particularly on the hindwings. The underside is typically paler and more cryptic.
