North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Texas

Rounded Metalmark (Calephelis nilus)
JPG -- species photo

Rounded Metalmark (Calephelis nilus). Subspecies arizonensis and freemani were formerly considered distinct species.

Wing span: 11/16 - 15/16 inch (1.8 - 2.4 cm).

Identification: Male with tip of forewing rounded. Upperside brown with indistinctly checkered fringes; may have dark median band.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly in axils of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves.

Flight: Throughout the year in South Texas, although most common from March-November.

Caterpillar hosts: Boneset (Eupatorium odoratum) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar including boneset.

Habitat: Open areas such as thorn scrub, road edges, and fencerows.

Range: Central Texas south to central Mexico.

Conservation: Habitats in the lower Rio Grande Valley should be protected and conserved.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern  butterflies. Peterson 

    field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,  Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University Press, 

    Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Neck, R.W. 1996. A Field Guide to Butterflies of Texas. Gulf Publishing Co., 

     Houston, Texas.



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.

     

Tveten, J. and Tveten, G.  1996.  Butterflies of Houston & Southeast Texas.

     Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, TX.  292 pp.

     

South Texas populations are ssp perditalis

Rounded Metalmark (Calephelis nilus)
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page