October 19, 2023

I'm a West Indian Mangrove Buckeye butterfly

I have 2 palpi that help me to sense and smell

If you look at me closely, the palpis look like

I've a secret I'm not supposed to tell!

(Note: Enlarge the first picture here. I've never gotten a photo of a butterfly from this angle before and thus never noticed the palpi before!)

Location: Joe Michael Memorial Trail, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.mylifeatplaytime.com/butterfly-anatomy/

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 2, 2023

I am probably a Mangrove Buckeye

I've got orange around my large eyespot

Buckeye taxonomy has changed and we hybridize

So I might be a Mangrove Buckeye or not.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/WildlifeDetail.asp?tx=Junoneil/BU

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 24, 2021

I am a Mangrove Buckeye,

If I were Common, I would have white

On my upper hind wings round my eyespots

I'm easy to misidentify. 

(I need to go back and check my past blog entries - I think I have some Mangroves misidentified as Common Buckeyes.)

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bird's Impoundment Trail

Sources: http://www.susanleachsnyder.com/Conservancy%20Butterfly%20Garden/Buckeye.html

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson