Blue Pansy Butterflies Junonia sp. - also called Buckeye Butterflies in North America

The beautiful BLUE PANSY Butterfly, Junonia orithya, is native to Africa through to Asia-Pacific.

In Australia it is called the Blue Argus and in South Africa, the Eyed Pansy. The underside is camouflaged.

The DARK BLUE PANSY Butterfly, Junonia oenone, is native to Africa and the Indian Ocean countries. It has far less blue than its Blue Pansy cousin. The male usually has the bright blue patches.

The female often has lilac or pink patches. When it drops its forewings, it shows no blue at all, only black with some white markings and the barely visible tell-tale eyes of the Pansy butterflies.