What host plants have you seen the: Common Buckeye use?

16 years ago

THIS thread is ONLY for the host plants of

the: COMMON BUCKEYE (Junonia coenia).

1. It would be interesting to know what species of butterfly HOST PLANTS different gardners have observed certain butterflies using in their respective regions, first-hand.

*Example: Some sites indicate Red Mulberry as a host for the Mourning Cloak Butterfly. It would be interesting to know if anyone can confirm this through personal experience in observation; likewise, it would be interesting if anyone has seen Mourning Cloaks use Morus alba, etc.

*Another example: Some sites claim that the Eastern Tiger Swallow Tail Butterfly uses Lindera benzoin - a known host of the Spicebush Swallowtail; and the other way around: Some sites claim that Swampbay Magnolia is the host of the Spicebush Swallowtail, although it is primarily described as the host of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (in the south?). This may be a re-circulated error(?)

2. If you have two or more host plants commonly known to be a host plant of a certain butterfly, it would be interesting to know which is MORE attractive then the other(s).

*Example: Common hosts of the Red-Admiral Butterfly include: Tall Stinging Nettle; Stinging Nettle L.; Wood Nettle; False Nettle; & Canadian Clear-Weed Nettle. I intend to grow all of these. I would be able to eventually report which patch (each being 5' x 5') of Nettle spp. attracted the most Red-Admirals or associated brushfoots.

_________________________________________________________

Note: There are websites that re-circulate misinformation and dubious information, so in this discussion thread, please exclusively present only your own personal observations. This should, hopefully, provide practical information when regionally applied in making decisions in host plant selection where space is limited, etc.

-Steve

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Comments (10)

butterflymomok
16 years ago
Steve,

The only time I have raised Buckeyes is on Butter and Eggs, which is in the Snapdragon family. One year I had lots and lots of cats all over the plants. B&E is a very invasive plant which needs lots of space. I got it from Clear Creek Farms here in OK. They don't have a website, but if you are interested, I can give you a number where they can be reached.

OKSandy
njbiology
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks!

I've read that they will use Mimulus (Monkeyflower spp.); this would be good because I have a lot around my pond. I wonder if they will use those common plaintains (specie?) that are common in northeastern lawns.
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butterflymomok
16 years ago
Lots of people in OK grow the Plantago Lanceolata, Narrow Leafed Plantain, for Buckeyes and seem to find cats on it. I have planted some of the PL to see if I can get cats, as I have Buckeyes around here. I am sure that they are laying their eggs on something that is growing wild nearby.

Whatever you grow, you want to make sure it can sustain your cats through to adulthood. I raised a rather large brood of Buckeyes on the B&E.

I tried to look up the plant in one of my books to find the botanical name, but didn't have any luck.

OKSandy
MissSherry
16 years ago
I've planted several different members of the snapdragon family for them, but they continue to only use agalinis or gerardia (which is it?) fasciculata. I've seen them laying eggs on it and raised quite a few cats on it over the years.
MissSherry
susanlynne48
16 years ago
They use plantain (plantago lanceolata or ribgrass) in my yard. I also have tried to lure them with Mimulus ringens, common snapdragons, and dischoriste (twinflower), but they have only used the plantain this year.

Susan
linda_centralokzn6
16 years ago
Here, they use Blue toadflax (linaria canadensis), and paintbrush until it gets hot. Then they will use plantago lanceolata until frost.
njbiology
Original Author
16 years ago
This was interesting.

So, those looking to provide Buckeyes with attractive host plants should plant: Butter-and-Eggs, Wild Foxglove, Plantago lanceolata, Canada [Blue] Toadflax, Snap Draggon spp., Plantain spp.,

[I find Ruellia nudiflora & Monkeyflower, spp. mentioned as a sure host, from what I've read...]
webkat5
16 years ago
Mine are still using Linaria purpurea...have been for quite some time...
jmcat
16 years ago
I haven't ever raised Buckeyes, but I have seen a female lay an egg on regular snapdragons. After I saw that, I (of course) brought in the egg on a sprig of snapdragon. However, the egg was gone the next morning. :( I recall seeing some small bugs on the sprig of snapdragon, so I'm guessing that the egg was eaten.
-Jmcat
Jillberto
16 years ago
I have found them munching away on Galvezia speciosaÂIsland Bush Snapdragon, a great Calif. native. This plant is also great for hummingbirds. After established takes no irrigation and no summer water.

I did not take them off the plant to raise them. At the time my plant was too small to be able to keep cutting off sprigs from.