Mexican Metalmark
Apodemia mejicanus (Behr, 1865)
Family: Riodinidae
Subfamily: Riodininae
Identification: Upperside orange-brown to black, checkered with black and white spots. Forewing outer portion black with white spots and inner portion with yellow-orange to brick-red patch. Underside gray with white spots to red-orange or yellow-orange with black areas and white spots.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 5/16 inches (2.2 - 3.3 cm).
Life History: Males perch in hillside hollows or flats to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups of 2-4 on lower leaves of host plant, or singly on other parts of plant. Caterpillars rest during the day in shelters of leaves tied together with silk, emerging at night to feed. Young caterpillars feed on leaves, older caterpillars eat leaves and stems. Young caterpillars hibernate inside plant parts such as the dilated stems of E. inflatum.
Flight: Mid- February to mid-November (2-3 flights).
Caterpillar Hosts: Various wild buckwheats (Eriogonum), including Inflated Buckwheat, Wright\'s Buckwheat, others, and possibly Kramerias.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of Eriogonum and other plants, especially yellow-flowered composites.
Habitat: Various arid lands including rocky hills and alluvial fans and flats, oak grassland.
Range: Southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico south to Baja California and mainland Mexico.
Conservation: Sufficient populations, but some may be threatened by invasive alien weeds such as cheatgrass.
NCGR: Probably G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes: Subspecies mejicanus also referred to as the Sonoran Metalmark.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 201 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 26, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 28, 2014
Observation date: Nov 24, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 26, 2013
Observation date: Nov 04, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2013
Observation date: Nov 17, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 18, 2013
Observation date: Apr 29, 2013
Submitted by: Don Tomberlin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2013
Observation date: Jan 21, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Alex Grkovich)
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 19, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bob Barber)
Region: Yuma County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 24, 1988
Submitted by: charlie covell (Charles Covell)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 15, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 01, 2011
Submitted by: Joe Schelling--...
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 03, 2011
Observation date: May 31, 2011
Submitted by: Joe Schelling--...
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 03, 2011
Observation date: Apr 16, 2011
Submitted by: Matt ODonnell
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 07, 2011
Observation date: May 30, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 02, 2011
Observation date: Apr 03, 2011
Submitted by: lorhum
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2011
Observation date: Dec 01, 2010
Submitted by: afleishman
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: Dec 06, 2010
Submitted by: afleishman
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: Apr 24, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Mar 20, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 03, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 03, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 17, 1970
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 17, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Bauer)
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 06, 1994
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Mar 03, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
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