Anthracite Bee-fly vs Common Buckeye

Anthrax anthrax compared with Junonia coenia

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Anthracite Bee-fly	Common Buckeye
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Bombyliidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Anthrax	Junonia
Species	Anthrax anthrax	Junonia coenia

Evolutionary Relationship

Anthracite Bee-fly and Common Buckeye share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Anthracite Bee-fly

LC — Least Concern

Common Buckeye

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Anthracite Bee-fly	Common Buckeye
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Anthracite Bee-fly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Common Buckeye

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Canada and United States.

Anthracite Bee-fly

The Anthracite Bee-fly (Anthrax anthrax) is a species in the genus Anthrax. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Common Buckeye

The common buckeye (<em>Junonia coenia</em>) is a strikingly patterned butterfly found across North America, with documented occurrences in Canada and the United States. This species typically inhabits all terrestrial and freshwater environments across its range, favoring open, sunny habitats such as meadows, fields, roadsides, and coastal areas with low vegetation. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting stable and widespread populations. As a member of the family Nymphalidae, the common buckeye is instantly recognizable by the large, colorful eyespots on both the fore- and hindwings, which serve as a defense mechanism against predators. Larvae often feed on a variety of host plants in the families Plantaginaceae and Acanthaceae. The common buckeye typically undertakes seasonal migrations, moving southward in autumn and returning north in spring. Adults often nectar on a wide variety of wildflowers throughout their active season. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.