North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Texas

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
JPG -- species photo

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela Butler)

Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.9 - 3.2 cm).

Identification: Forewing somewhat indented below tip. Fringes of male white; those of female dark on forewing, light on hindwing. Upperside dull red-brown; hindwing with more orange. Underside pinkish brown with scattered small dark spots.

Life history: Males perch in openings in valley bottoms to watch for females.

Flight: Two broods from March-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Oak woodlands, canyons, streamsides.

Range: Southern Arizona south to Venezuela.

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:


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.

     

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
distribution map
map legend

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