CLOSED: Butterfly ID Please

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nanny_56 Putnam County, IN(Zone 5b) Dec 17, 2012

I never labeled this photo from 2010.

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C_A_Ivy Barling, AR(Zone 7b) Dec 31, 2012

I'm a butterfly novice, 6 mon experience, so for what it is worth this is my opinion. This is not an Indiana butterfly but a warm climate specimen. It is a Junonia evarete-tropical buckeye. A beauty and absolutely gorgeous with topside view of wings open.

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vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Dec 31, 2012

Where was the photo taken nanny and is it on a palm?

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nanny_56 Putnam County, IN(Zone 5b) Jan 01, 2013

It was taken here in my front yard here in Indiana. It is on a lily stalk

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vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Jan 01, 2013

Shorthog, i think you are doing really well...i've been at this for 5 years and am still a novice.

Nanny and Shorthog...this looks like a Junonia evarete, but i don't know. It is a neotropical butterfly that is normally found in Florida and the Caribbean, possibly south Texas, Mexico, Central America, and subtropical and tropical South America...so i don't know what it is doing in Indiana. I will send a D-Mail to lepfarmer to see what he has to say about this one.

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C_A_Ivy Barling, AR(Zone 7b) Jan 01, 2013

Since this is an Indiana butterfly it is likely a Common buckeye. ID'ing buckeyes by underwing view has been very contentious on "BugGuide". "Butterflies of America" web site has examples of underwing views that support any of the three buckeyes (Common, Mangrove, Tropical). "Butterflies and Moths of North America" has examples of Common buckeyes that appear similar to the specimen in question.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery?stage=All&species_view=All&species_type=All&family=All&field_sciname_value=&field_comname_value=common+buckeye

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nanny_56 Putnam County, IN(Zone 5b) Jan 01, 2013

I think you are probably right shorthog about it being a Common Buckeye....but if it were something else that would be very cool!!

Thank you both for helping!

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lepfarmer Red Oak, TX Jan 01, 2013

Definitely Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). The ventral surfaces of J. coenia can be quite variable. This particular "look" is one I see quite often.

Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com

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vitrsna Colima, Mexico(Zone 11) Jan 01, 2013

Thanks for your comments Dale. Shorthog also came to this conclusion and nanny you should be comfortable now that you have a correct ID. Yes it would have been pretty cool to see a neotropical butterfly in Indiana, but what you have is no less beautiful. I love these butterflies ("common" and otherwise) and have a host plant on the way for them which will also host the Malachites and White Peacocks so i am looking forward to seeing more of them in my garden.

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nanny_56 Putnam County, IN(Zone 5b) Jan 02, 2013

Thanks everyone! I love all butterflies that pass my way!

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