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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 250 verified sightings
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: Oct 05, 2014
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Apr 25, 2014
Submitted by: XplorMor Intern...
Region: Hendry County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2019
Observation date: Sep 21, 2013
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
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: Apr 21, 2013
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
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: 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
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
Observation date: Oct 15, 2010
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: Feb 07, 2011
Observation date: Oct 12, 2010
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Sep 20, 2010
Submitted by: cfhayes
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 07, 2011
Observation date: Sep 19, 2010
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Sep 16, 2010
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Mar 25, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Lisa Head)
Region: Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Verified date: Apr 09, 2009
Observation date: May 29, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahern)
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 29, 2008
Observation date: May 24, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2008
Observation date: Oct 25, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Oct 30, 2007
Observation date: Sep 07, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Fussell)
Region: Carteret 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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