South American Tropical Buckeye
Common NameSouth American Tropical Buckeye
Scientific NameJunonia evarete
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Primary Colorsbrown, blue, orange, black, pink
HabitatOpen fields, disturbed areas, gardens, forest edges, roadsides
Geographic RangeSouth America, Central America, Caribbean
Host PlantsRuellia, Plantago, Bacopa, Stachytarpheta
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLike other butterflies, it undergoes complete metamorphosis: eggs are laid singly on host plants, larvae (caterpillars) feed on leaves, pupate into a chrysalis, and emerge as adults.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the large, distinct eyespots on both sets of wings, the iridescent blue scaling on the hindwings, and the overall brown and orange coloration with reddish-pink accents.
Description
This butterfly has brown wings with prominent, large eyespots on both forewings and hindwings. The hindwings feature striking iridescent blue patches and orange bands, while the forewings have reddish-pink and black markings near the apex.
