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junonia sp.
This butterfly has been visiting my front garden for a few days and today I could finally stop on my way out and dedicate some time to take a few pictures. The beautifully colored butterfly kept flying, hopping and flapping its wings enthusiastically while going from one tiny flower to other. According to biologist Gabriela Bentancur, the difference between the junonia evarete and the junonia genoveva hilaris is not clear yet and is one of her areas of research. Therefore and meanwhile junonia sp. is the most reasonable identification possible. Nevertheless, she mentioned the fact that every two to three years, the junonia genoveva hilaris migrates through Uruguay and that that event is happening now.
I loved this lively and brightly colored butterfly. =) One of the books I have seems to refer to it as a peackock butterfly (junonia evarete), however, in the Internet it is referred to as Tropical buckeye or mangrove buckeye butterfly (junonia genoveva)
Thank you toucan for the ID, as you may read it probably is but it is not certain so I will leave the junonia sp. meanwhile. Greetings! =)
The biologist Gabriela Bentancur has very kindly answered my query and she said this is one of the things she is trying to settle down in her doctorate so we will have to wait until she finishes to have an precise result.
Meanwhile, she said that the Junonia genoveva hilaris migrates from east to west through Uruguay every 2-3 years and that that event is actually happening now. So, we could deduce it is a Junonia genoveva hilaris but it wouldn´t be 100 % accurate. Greetings
I was not able to locate sufficient references to show me the range overlap, just general statements about countries. At least you have a reference book for your area. Maybe someone from your area can better help you confirm your ID. You have wonderful photos to help. :)
Thank you J and gatorfellows! Very interesting link and I understand that it is very difficult to tell these two apart...even more if the underside color and antennae tip is not always accepted. Regarding the latter, I would say it is a junonia evarete as the antennae color was quite even. Also, in the uruguayan books I have the genoveva sp. is not mentioned and the evarete, thing which makes me think that there might be more evarete colonies here than genoveva ones... But also, the reference you gave me says there are genoveva ones in Brazil and Argentina, so why not here? I leave it as sp. by now and the discussion is here, so we are also pointing out this difficulty concerning the junonia. Greetings =)
Here is a reference that tries to explain the difference; http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/And...
ID by the color of the underside and antennae tip is not always accepted.
Yes, I imagined. That is why I took the picture of the underside but this picture is not included in the guides. Ok, going for the safe, but which name shall I leave, because the common names are different... I changed the name and wrote the problem in notes...
They are very similar and require the underside of the wings and close examination of the antennae to try to tell them apart. Junonia sp. is a safer course. :)
Thank you very much gatorfellows! yes, one of the books I have refers to it as junonia evarete but I am also wondering about the junonia genoveva which also seems just like it... maybe I should just write junonia sp. because the difference between this two is not that clear from my point of view... Greetings and thanks once more =)
Buckeye; Junonia sp. Not sure which species you have in your area, but this should give you a place to start.
Spotted on Feb 17, 2013
Submitted on Feb 17, 2013
