All About Common Buckeye Butterflies.

The Common Buckeye, known scientifically as Junonia coenia, is a striking butterfly species native to North America. It has a wingspan ranging from 1.5 to 2.75 inches and boasts a vivid pattern on its upper wings, blending brown, tan, and orange hues. Its most distinctive feature is the large, colorful eyespots—circular markings that look like eyes—featuring yellow, white, black, and sometimes hints of blue or purple, which help deter predators. The underside of its wings, by contrast, is a muted brown, offering camouflage when the butterfly rests.
This species thrives in open, sunny spaces like fields, grasslands, roadsides, and gardens, favoring disturbed areas where its host plants grow. You’ll find it across much of the United States, southern Canada, and parts of Mexico, though it’s more prevalent in the southern U.S. and migrates northward during warmer months. Females lay small, green eggs singly on plants from the snapdragon family, such as snapdragons, toadflax, and plantains, or occasionally the acanthus family. The caterpillars that hatch are black with spines, marked with white and orange, while the chrysalis is a mottled brown or gray, blending seamlessly into its environment. Adult butterflies emerge to live for about 10 to 20 days, sipping nectar from flowers like asters, chicory, and coreopsis.