Calephelis muticum

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Swamp metalmark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Riodinidae
Genus: Calephelis
Species:
C. muticum
Binomial name
Calephelis muticum
McAlpine (1937)
Synonyms
  • Emesis muticum
  • Calephelis mutica

Calephelis muticum, the swamp metalmark, is a butterfly species in the family Riodinidae.

Description[edit]

Males have pointed forewings while the females tend to be slightly more rounded. Both sexes have bright red-brown wings which are lightly checkered. Wingspan is 2.4 to 3 cm.[1]

Distribution[edit]

They have populations in the United States in southern Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, southern Wisconsin and northern Arkansas. There are also small populations in Iowa and Kentucky. They are most often seen in bogs, marshes, swamps and wet meadows. The species is endangered in Illinois.[2]

Life cycle[edit]

The eggs are laid singly on the underside of the host plant. Fourth and fifth stage caterpillars overwinter. In the Great Lakes region there is only one brood between June and August, while in the southern regions there are two broods between May and September.

Larval foods[edit]

Nectar flowers[edit]

Conservation[edit]

Calephelis muticum is threatened by ongoing loss and degradation of habitat, invasive species, and pesticides.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Swamp Metalmark Calephelis muticum McAlpine, 1937 | Butterflies and Moths of North America". www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  2. ^ Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board (16 August 2019). "Summary of all ESPB preliminary listing decisions for the Illinois List review and revision ending in 2020" (PDF). Illinois Department of Natural Resources. pp. 1–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.