Buckeye photo/ Goose Island SP

[Mark Walker]

I have Buckeye specimens from all over the U.S. (and most recently from
Jamaica) which show similar variation and peculiarity.  The variation seems
to be inherent to the genus in general, but I agree that it sure looks like
"something is going on".  Perhaps we can all get our specimens together and
have a more thorough look at the geographic variation.  A Buckeye party of
sorts.

I shared this anecdote on LEPS-L a few years ago:  When I was but a small
entomologist (say, around 8 or 9 years old), I had a dream where I was
engrossed in collecting, and I found myself surrounded by Buckeyes.  As I
approached, I was astonished to find that they were all different.  There
were yellow ones, blue ones, red ones, green ones - all Junonia, and looking
spectacular.  Just like dreams where you've found money (am I the only one
whose had those dreams?), I awoke from my ecstasy only to come to the
depressing reality that it was merely a dream.  There was only one Buckeye -
and little reason to keep looking for them (I actually came to the
conclusion that I had "seen" all there was to see by about ten).  Years
later, after a lull dedicated to chasing fast times rather than fast bugs, I
ran across literature that pictured many different Junonia species from
across the world.  My dream was true!  The world still held new discoveries
for me after all - and there was reason again to go out looking for them!

The Junonia that I enjoyed in India in 2000 were real-life examples of my
childhood dream.  It was a profound moment, as I watched a mating pair of
Blue Peacocks dancing and prancing before my very eyes (now that's a Buckeye
to behold).  I have been truly blessed.  Buckeyes are cool.

Mark Walker.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Grkovich, Alex [mailto:agrkovich at tmpeng.com]
> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 9:30 AM
> To: 'drdn at mail.utexas.edu'; tx-BUTTERFLY at LISTSERV.UH.EDU
> Cc: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: RE: Buckeye photo/ Goose Island SP
> 
> 
> 	See comment/question below:
> > > > Yes I agree with your forewing ID tips, Nick.  My 
> described cream and
> > > > orange differences are very evident in these clear cut 
> photos.  I wish
> > they
> > > > were all this clear cut and easy.  For nigrosuffusa - No orange
> > evident in
> > > > the hindwings, no cream surrounding the eyespots, and 
> reduced eyespots
> > in
> > > > the forewing are very typical of nigrosuffusa.  For 
> coenia - Orange
> > bands
> > > > in the hindwings and the creamy area on the forewings 
> that enclose the
> > > > eyespots are textbook coenia in my book.  Coenia also have HUGE
> > eyespots.
> > > > If theres no cream in your coenia forewing but orange 
> in the forewing
> > > > around the eyespot its probably J. evarete.
> > 
> 	[AG]    Good! Then, what exactly are these specimens from San
> Antonio, TX  which (females) are very large and very bright 
> above, with
> cream in the FW band (no pink or orange) but have orange 
> inside the larger
> eyespot, and tend to have EXTREMELY oversized (both) HW eyespots? and
> (males) small, dark ground color (but not smokey) with cream in FW (no
> orange) and orange inside the lower FW eyespot, and tend to 
> have both HW
> eyespots reduced? Maybe they're just coenia, but something is 
> going on.
> 
> 	In late March last year, I took a series of "coenia" at 
> Panama City,
> FL in a dry field (flying with Fiery Skippers etc.) which 
> tend somewhat
> toward "tropical" types. 
> 
> 	I have a short series of Buckeyes from near New Orleans 
> (June 1996)
> that are very large and bright and look somewhat like the San Antonio
> material, except there is no orange inside the lower FW 
> eyespot, and the
> lower HW eyespot is smaller than in the corresponding TX material.
> 
> 	Evarete and genoveva from last week in St. Thomas, USVI 
> are exactly
> like Andy Warren described (and exactly like in the 
> S.Florida/West Indies
> book). It took me a half hour to collect a male evarete. The 
> genoveva were
> all in weedy habitat, from sea level to 1550 feet.
> 
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Youre welcome,
> > > >
> > > > Charlie
> > > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
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