[5][6] In fact, the presence of these metabolites may trigger oviposition behaviors in female butterflies so that descendant larval bodies may better incorporate iridoid glycosides.

[8][9] Therefore, immunity of J. coenia larvae to predators like ants appears to be strongly related to the concentration of iridoid glycosides sequestered in their bodies.

[10] However, too much iridoid glycosides in the diet can negatively affect the immune response of these larvae and lead to increased susceptibility to parasitism.

[14] Common buckeye butterflies are colored mostly brown with some orange, black, white, blue, and magenta.

There are several other species that resemble these caterpillars in appearance, such as the painted lady, the Glanville fritillary, and the red admiral, which can be easily confused by an untrained observer.

[15]Like the more familiar monarchs, these caterpillars pupate by spinning a silk pad on a downward facing horizontal surface, attaching themselves with their rear end, and hanging in the form of the letter J for a day or so before shedding their skin to reveal the chrysalis.

These species then diverged into J. almanac, J. lemonias, and J. villida that began to differ morphologically from African ancestors.

[16] Caterpillars feed on a variety of plants including the narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata), the common greater plantain (Plantago major), blue toadflax, false foxglove, Mexican petunia (Ruellia species), the firecracker plant, and Cudweed.

Iridoid glycosides trigger feeding behaviors of J. coenia larvae in northern California, serving as attractants and as stimulants.

This is especially advantageous because the flower's color can be linked to its viability as well as the nectar reward that it can provide the pollinator.

Larvae concentrate large amounts of iridoid glycosides, and theoretical explanations for this include protection from predators.

Therefore, evolution would favor female J. coenia that can detect more iridoid glycosides on host plants so that larvae can incorporate that into their diet and thus gain better protective mechanisms for survival.

Common buckeyes move to the south along with tailwinds directed to the north or northwest after the cold fronts from September or October.

This selection then favors larvae that have diets including iridoid glycosides as well as females who oviposition on those sites by providing offspring with necessary defense mechanisms.

[8] The densovirus Junonia coenia infects the common buckeye larvae by focusing on targeting dividing cells in order to propagate.

Therefore, it is necessary to balance the chemical defense provided by these secondary metabolites with their immunological cost that correlates with increased risk of parasitism.

The concentration of iridoid glycoside sequestered by larvae seems to be a strong predictor for the decreased likelihood that they will be predated.

[10] In order to find a host plant for oviposition, females search for appropriate concentrations of catalpol or iridoid glycosides.

Therefore, they practice drumming, which allows them to pierce the plant exterior and ‘taste’ the variety of allelochemicals that are present within its structure.