Common buckeye butterfly

Open, sunny habitats such as roadsides, gardens, fields, and disturbed urban areas, especially across North America.

Adults drink nectar from flowers and may feed on rotting fruit; caterpillars eat plants including plantains, snapdragons, and members of the figwort family.

A fast, alert flier that often rests with wings closed, displaying prominent eyespots when disturbed. Several generations occur annually, with seasonal migration in parts of its range.

Harmless to people and valuable as a pollinator and component of food webs. Caterpillars can occasionally nibble ornamental plants but rarely cause serious damage.