Mangrove Buckeye (GTM Research Reserve Butterfly Guide)

Mangrove Buckeye

Junonia genoveva

Summary ⁵

The Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva) is a localized species that does not range far from edges of Black Mangrove Swamps. The closely related Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarte) is found only in southern Florida around Homestead and south in the Keys.

Description ⁵

Upperside is brown; forewing has a narrow orange band which rings the large eyespot; eyespot is never ringed with brown. Underside of the hind wing is brown, usually without bands or eyespots (Fig. 3); median band is jagged. Base of hind wing can have a bluish cast (Fig. 2) which is not present in the Common Buckeye. Hind wing spots are smaller in the Mangrove Buckeye than in the Common Buckeye.

Larval Description ⁵

Larva is black with orange lateral stripe with metallic blue-black dorsal spines. Spines along sides arise from orange wart-like bases. Head black with orange dosal band; short black scolus over each lobe; pair of narrow, white, broken lines on each segment.

Larval host plant ⁵

Larva is restricted to Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in the family Verbenaceae.

GTM Occurrence ⁵

The Mangrove Buckeye is considered a rare species at the GTM. It has been observed three times once on each of Transects A-C. The species was observed in September, November, and December. There have been 3 specimens observed as of December 28, 2015.

Distribution ⁵

Atlantic coast of Mexico north to South Texas, the West Indies, and extreme southern Florida.

Habitat ⁶

Comments: Generally dry weedy places at least in Florida (Minno and Emmel, 1993) and Opler (1999) states tropical lowland weedy fields and beaches for the US range generally.

Nature serve conservation status ⁷

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Sources and Credits

More Info

iNat Map

Category name	rare

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