A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Junonia neildi varia
Junonia neildi varia is a subspecies found along the gulf coast in south Texas. It has a few subtle differences that differentiate it from the Common buckeye. One difference is the Mangrove buckeye lacks the dark circle surrounding the large eyespot on the top of the forewing and instead has orange.
Spotted feeding on flowers at the South Padre Island Birding And Nature Center.
Thanks, Ornithoptera80! I believe your correct and great job on finding the ID of a new subspecies. As of 2020, It's now been determined that there are three species of Junonia buckeye butterflies in South Texas. Junonia coenia (Common Buckeye), the familiar species widespread across the eastern U.S. and found statewide in Texas.
Junonia neildi varia, a newly named subspecies of Black Mangrove-feeding buckeye found along the coast up to about Aransas County.
Junonia stemosa, a newly named "dark" buckeye of South Texas that's genetically distinct from the similar Junonia nigrosuffusa of the southwestern U.S. (including the Trans-Pecos).
Spotted on Nov 17, 2020
Submitted on Dec 16, 2020
