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Wright's Metalmark (Calephelis wrighti Holland)
Wing span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 3 cm).
Identification: Male forewing long and pointed, with indented outer margin. Upperside of both sexes dull red-brown with median band usually not apparent.
Life history: Males perch on or near host plants to seek females. Eggs are laid singly at joints in the host plant stems. Caterpillars feed on the outer coverings of the stems.
Flight: Many broods from February-October.
Caterpillar hosts: Sweet-bush (Bebbia juncea) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult food: Nectar from host plant flowers.
Habitat: Near moisture in oases, washes, and canyons.
Range: Southern California and western Arizona south into Baja California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: None reported.
References:
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press,
Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,
Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Emmel, T.C. Editor. 1998. Systematics of western North American butterflies.
Mariposa Press, Gainesville, Florida.
Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998. The Butterflies of
Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON. 280 pp.
Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised
edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies.
Privately published, Denver, Colo.
Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
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 1999 -
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