Calephelis muticum explained

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

Description

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

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

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

• Cirsium muticum
• Cirsium altissimum

Nectar flowers

• Rudbeckia hirta

Conservation

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

References

• Web site: Swamp Metalmark . Butterflies and Moths of North America . 2008-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090505191021/http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1640 . 2009-05-05 . dead .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Swamp Metalmark Calephelis muticum McAlpine, 1937 Butterflies and Moths of North America. 2022-01-25. www.butterfliesandmoths.org.
2. Web site: Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board . Summary of all ESPB preliminary listing decisions for the Illinois List review and revision ending in 2020 . Illinois Department of Natural Resources . 9 January 2020 . 1–15 . en . 16 August 2019 . 9 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200109191236/https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/ESPB/Documents/92019_Final_Summary_%20of_ESPB_preliminary_approvals_.pdf . dead .
3. Web site: NatureServe Explorer 2.0. 2022-01-25. explorer.natureserve.org.