Little Metalmark
Calephelis virginiensis (Guérin-Méneville, [1832])
Family: Riodinidae
Subfamily: Riodininae
Identification: The only metalmark of the southeast Atlantic coastal plain. Small. Upperside rusty orange, with fringes dark and not checkered. Underside brighter orange.
Wing Span: 1/2 - 1 inch (1.3 - 2.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch on low-growing plants to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Caterpillars rest underneath leaves during the day, emerging at night and on cloudy days to feed.
Flight: Three to five broods from March-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum).
Adult Food: Short-flowered composites including yarrow, lance-leaved coreopsis, fine-leaved sneezeweed, and blue mist flower.
Habitat: Grassy areas of the coastal plain and in open pine woods, savannah, and salt-marsh meadows.
Range: Atlantic coastal plain and piedmont from Maryland south to Florida and the Keys; west along the Gulf coast to southeast Texas.
Conservation: Colonies are localized but apparently conservation concern is minimal.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 211 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 21, 2018
Submitted by: A.Mitchell
Region: Jones County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 05, 2014
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: misspt
Region: Franklin County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 10, 2018
Observation date: Feb 24, 2018
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Feb 19, 2018
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 19, 2018
Observation date: Oct 07, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 15, 2018
Observation date: Oct 02, 2016
Submitted by: cericketts
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 02, 2017
Observation date: Mar 21, 2017
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Jul 25, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 13, 2016
Observation date: Mar 15, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2015
Observation date: Sep 21, 2013
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
Observation date: Apr 10, 2015
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 06, 2015
Observation date: Jul 01, 2013
Submitted by: jperesich
Region: Grady County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
Observation date: Sep 11, 2013
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 27, 2013
Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 26, 2013
Observation date: Jan 13, 2013
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 11, 2013
Observation date: Oct 13, 2012
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 30, 2012
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2012
Observation date: Aug 08, 2012
Submitted by: Corkscrew
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Anderson)
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 19, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (SPH)
Region: Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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