Common Buckeye is one of the most common and widespread butterflies in the United States.

Near Florida City, Miami-Dade Co., FL 6/23/2010.

The pattern above is quite striking, but these butterflies are often not looked at closely because they're so abundant. This is the same individual, but with natural light instead of the camera's flash.

Near Florida City, Miami-Dade Co., FL 6/23/2010.

The underside is a bit plainer. Mating pair.

Near Florida City, Miami-Dade Co., FL 6/23/2010.

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

Durham Co., NC 6/24/07.

Mating pair.

Craven Co., NC 8/28/05.

Another mating pair.

Craven Co., NC 8/26/07.

When fresh, the centers of the eye-spots are a beautiful lavender color.

Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.

The summer form has eyespots on the underside.

Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC 8/10/02.

The winter form lacks these eyespots.

Mecklenburg Co., NC 10/18/02.

What could this be hiding on the underside of a leaf? Some vagrant butterfly from the tropics? Doesn't look much like a Buckeye...

... until it opens up a bit.

Durham Co., NC 10/8/03.

Caterpillar on its host plant, Agalinis (False Foxglove).

Hoke Co., NC 9/12/04.

Chatham Co., NC 9/18/10.