Posts Tagged: Junonia coenia

A 'Firecracker of a Surprise' in Davis: Who Knew?

When plant and insect enthusiast Ria de Grassi discovered caterpillars on her firecracker plant, Russelia equisetiformis, last July 10 in her yard in...

These are the caterpillars (larvae) of the Buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, that Ria de Grassi noticed on her firecracker plant. (Photo by Ria de Grassi)

These are the caterpillars (larvae) of the Buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, that Ria de Grassi noticed on her firecracker plant. (Photo by Ria de Grassi)

Plant and insect enthusiast Ria de Grassi of Davis, a UC Davis alumna, reads in her newly landscaped backyard, a "Life After Lawn" project. (Photo by Katie Hetrick, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden)

Plant and insect enthusiast Ria de Grassi of Davis, a UC Davis alumna, reads in her newly landscaped backyard, a "Life After Lawn" project. (Photo by Katie Hetrick, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden)

Firecracker plant, Russellia equisetiforis, thrives by the Sciences Lab Building on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Firecracker plant, Russellia equisetiforis, thrives by the Sciences Lab Building on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Miss Is as Good as a Mile

A miss is as good as a mile...or a smile. The Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is a striking butterfly patterned with eyespots and white bars. We saw one...

Buckeye butterfly on sedum. Note the missing chunks of its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye butterfly on sedum. Note the missing chunks of its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sideview of Buckeye butterfly-almost a meal for a predator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sideview of Buckeye butterfly-almost a meal for a predator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An intact Buckeye on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Buck (Eye) Stops Here

The buck stops here. The buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia), that is. Whether it's doing the fandago on the plantago, the can-can on the...

Buckeye (Junonia coenia) spreads its wings on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye (Junonia coenia) spreads its wings on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye perched on lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye perched on lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Shall We Prey?

The California Buckeye (Junonia coenia), with its bold eyespots and white bars, is an easily recognizable butterfly. The problem: getting close...

Buckeye spreads it wings on an African daisy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buckeye spreads it wings on an African daisy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Shattered Buckeye, probably the work of a praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Shattered Buckeye, probably the work of a praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The predator? Could have been this praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The predator? Could have been this praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Eyes Have It

The eyespots--they're almost hypnotic. And that's what makes the buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) so easily recognizable--the bold pattern of...

Buckeye Butterfly

EYESPOTS on the wings of a buckeye butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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