Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

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 25 - 48 of 235 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
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Observation date: Mar 21, 2017
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
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Observation date: Oct 02, 2016
Submitted by: cericketts
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 02, 2017
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Observation date: Jul 25, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 13, 2016
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Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: ShieldsM
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
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Observation date: Jun 24, 2016
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 23, 2019
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Observation date: Jun 24, 2016
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
  Details
Observation date: Jul 04, 2015
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
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Observation date: Apr 10, 2015
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 06, 2015
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Observation date: Mar 15, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2015
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Observation date: Oct 05, 2014
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
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Observation date: Apr 25, 2014
Submitted by: XplorMor Intern...
Region: Hendry County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2019
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Observation date: Sep 21, 2013
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
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Observation date: Sep 11, 2013
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 27, 2013
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Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 26, 2013
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Observation date: Apr 21, 2013
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
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Observation date: Jan 13, 2013
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 11, 2013
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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
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Observation date: Sep 30, 2012
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2012
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Observation date: Aug 08, 2012
Submitted by: Corkscrew
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2012
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Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2012
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Observation date: Oct 08, 2011
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
  Details
Observation date: Jun 16, 2011
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
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Observation date: Oct 15, 2010
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: Feb 07, 2011
  Details