Walker's Metalmark (Apodemia walkeri Godman & Salvin)
Wing span: 3/4 - 1 inch (2 - 2.5 cm).
Identification: Small. Upperside gray with blurred white areas and orange marginal bands. Underside white with orange marginal bands and small black marks.
Life history: Not reported.
Flight: June and October in South Texas, all year in Mexico.
Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical scrub and forest.
Range: Northwest Costa Rica north through Mexico. An occasional visitor to the lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for periodic stray.
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:
DeVries, P. J. 1997. The butterflies of Costa Rica and their natural history. Volume II Riodinidae. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 288 pages, 25 color plates. 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