Common buckeye
Junonia coenia
Butterfly
The common buckeye is a brush-footed butterfly recognized by the large eyespots on its upper wings. Caterpillars feed on plants containing iridoid glycosides - the plantain family (Plantaginaceae, including Plantago, Penstemon, and Antirrhinum snapdragons), the vervain family (Verbenaceae, Verbena), and the acanthus family (Acanthaceae) - and sequester these compounds as a chemical defense. Adults nectar broadly on late-season composites such as asters and goldenrods, and northern populations are seasonally migratory because they cannot overwinter in hard-freeze regions.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
5 essential relationships / 1 supporting plant
Host/specialist links: 5
Forage/pollination links: 1
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 2
Blue vervain
Essential / Larval host plants
Verbenaceae (Verbena) is one of the documented iridoid-bearing larval-host families of the common buckeye; cited at genus level (Bowers 1984; UF/IFAS EENY-426).
Broadleaf plantain
Essential / Larval host plants
Plantago (Plantaginaceae) is a classic documented larval-host genus for the common buckeye (Junonia coenia), whose caterpillars feed on the iridoid-glycoside-bearing foliage of plantains.
Ribwort plantain
Essential / Larval host plants
Plantago lanceolata is a well-documented larval host for the common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia); its leaves are among the primary plantain hosts on which buckeye caterpillars feed, so even this weedy introduced plantain supports the next generation of a native butterfly.
Firecracker penstemon
Essential / Larval host plants
Penstemon is a documented common-buckeye host genus (Plantaginaceae); P. eatonii not individually cited, so genus-level inference.
Foxglove beardtongue
Essential / Larval host plants
Penstemon (Plantaginaceae, iridoid-bearing) is a documented common-buckeye larval-host genus (Calscape); P. digitalis is not species-cited, so genus-level inference.
Canada goldenrod
Supporting / Nectar plants
Goldenrod (Solidago) is a documented late-season common-buckeye nectar source; large numbers nectar on goldenrods in autumn.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 7
Verbenaceae (Verbena) is one of the documented iridoid-bearing larval-host families of the common buckeye; cited at genus level (Bowers 1984; UF/IFAS EENY-426).
Plantago (Plantaginaceae) is a classic documented larval-host genus for the common buckeye (Junonia coenia), whose caterpillars feed on the iridoid-glycoside-bearing foliage of plantains.
Penstemon is a documented common-buckeye host genus (Plantaginaceae); P. eatonii not individually cited, so genus-level inference.
Penstemon (Plantaginaceae, iridoid-bearing) is a documented common-buckeye larval-host genus (Calscape); P. digitalis is not species-cited, so genus-level inference.
Plantago lanceolata is a well-documented larval host for the common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia); its leaves are among the primary plantain hosts on which buckeye caterpillars feed, so even this weedy introduced plantain supports the next generation of a native butterfly.
Antirrhinum (snapdragon) is a named iridoid-glycoside larval host of the common buckeye; Calscape lists Antirrhinum species as Junonia coenia hosts (Plantaginaceae).
Verbena (Verbenaceae) is a documented common-buckeye host genus; V. bonariensis itself is not individually cited, so genus-level inference.
Nectar plants · 4
Goldenrod (Solidago) is a documented late-season common-buckeye nectar source; large numbers nectar on goldenrods in autumn.
Adult common buckeyes nectar on asters (Symphyotrichum); New England aster (S. novae-angliae) is documented adult forage (Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas).
Symphyotrichum asters are documented adult common-buckeye nectar sources during the late-season migratory period.
Solidago goldenrods are documented adult common-buckeye nectar sources during fall migration.
Range
Resident or seasonal across much of the United States (the eastern half, lower Midwest, and Southwest including most of California), southern Canada, and Mexico, recolonizing northern areas each year as it cannot overwinter in extreme cold.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Common buckeye (Junonia coenia). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/common-buckeye
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Common buckeye
Species profile for range, seasonal movement, host families, and adult nectar use.
MDC Field Guide: Common buckeye
State agency species account used for identification detail, larval and adult food, and life-cycle timing. Missouri-scoped, so it is not cited for continental range.
Wikipedia: Junonia coenia
Corroborating reference for eyespot identity, iridoid-host ecology, migration, and nectar behavior.
GBIF: Junonia coenia
GBIF returns an EXACT accepted hit for Junonia coenia (Nymphalidae) at usageKey 5130514.
iNaturalist: Junonia coenia
iNaturalist taxon 48505 is the species Junonia coenia, the common buckeye.