Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia evarete [Cramer])
Wing span: 1 3/8 - 2 1/4 inches (3.5 - 5.7 cm).
Identification: Upperside is brown; forewing has a narrow orange band which rings the large eyespot; eyespot is never ringed with brown. Underside of the hindwing is brown, usually without bands or eyespots; median band is jagged.
Life history: Caterpillars eat leaves of mangrove trees. Adults overwinter.
Flight: Several broods from March-October.
Caterpillar hosts: Black-mangrove.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tidal flats and black-mangrove swamps.
Range: Atlantic coast of Mexico north to South Texas, the West Indies, and extreme southern Florida.
Conservation: Monitor populations in south Florida and assess possible conservation needs.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: None reported.
References:
Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates. Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Gerberg, E.J. and Arnett, R.H., Jr. Florida Butterflies. Natural Science Publications, Inc. Baltimore, MD. 90 pp. Kimball, C.P. 1965. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas - Vol. 1: Lepidoptera of Florida. Div. of Plant Industry, State of Florida Dept. of Agriculture. Gainesville, FL. 363 pp. Minno, M.C. and Emmel, T.C. 1993. Butterflies of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers. Gainesville, FL. 168 pp. Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. Smith, D.S., Miller, L.D. and Miller, J.Y. 1994. The Butterflies of the West Indies and South Florida. Oxford Univ. Press. Oxford, U.K. 264 pp.