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Mexican Metalmark (Apodemia duryi [W.H. Edwards])
Wing span: 1 - 1 5/16 inches (2.5 - 3.3 cm).
Identification: Upperside yellow-orange with white spots (some black-edged) and black outer areas.
Life history: Males perch to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups of 2-4 on lower leaves of host plant, or singly on other parts of plant. Caterpillars rest during the day in shelters of leaves tied together with silk, emerging at night to feed. Young caterpillars feed on leaves, older caterpillars eat leaves and stems.
Flight: Late April to early October (2-3 flights).
Caterpillar hosts: Kramerias.
Adult food: Nectar from flowers.
Habitat: Various arid lands: rocky hills, grasslands.
Range: Southern New Mexico, west Texas and adjacent mainland Mexico.
Conservation: Not believed to be in need of conservation.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: Probably G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: None reported.
References:
Neck, R.W. 1996. A field guide to butterflies of Texas. Gulf Publishing Co.,
Houston, Texas. 323 pp.
Opler, P.A. 1999. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,
Boston, Mass. 540 pages, 44 color plates.
Opler, P., and J. A. Powell. 1961. Taxonomic and distributional studies on the
western components of the Apodemia mormo complex (Riodinidae). Journal of
the Lepidopterists' Society 15(3): 145-171.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press,
Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including
adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO.
Author: Paul A. Opler
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.
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