The Common Buckeye is widely found across the United States and Mexico. It gets its name from the striking, eye-like spots on each wing. When the wings are open, all four have a brown base color. The forewings feature two bright orange bars and two eyespots, with the lower one being the largest. The hindwings also have two eyespots, with the upper spot displaying a distinct magenta crescent.

 

“Common Buckeye” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Common Buckeye Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Nymphalinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 5/8 – 2 3/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Open, sunny areas with low vegetation and some bare ground

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• False Foxglove (Aureolaria spp.)

• Gerardia (Agalinis spp.)

• Plantain (Plantago spp.)

• Ruellia (Ruellia spp.)

• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp.)

• Toadflax (Linaria spp.)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Common Buckeye butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)