Apodemia

Apodemia

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Apodemia: /ˌæpoʊˈdiːmiə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)2 by Steve Berardi. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Mormon Metalmark Butterfly; Apodemia mormo (28117041740) by Joshua Tree National Park. Used under a Public domain license.
Riodinidae (10.3897-zookeys.729.20179) Figure 6 by Trujano-Ortega M, García-Vázquez UO, Callaghan CJ, Ávalos-Hernández O, Luis-Martínez MA, Llorente-Bousquets JE (2018) Two new genera of metalmark butterflies of North and Central America (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae). ZooKeys 729: 61-85. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.729.20179. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Apodemia mormo 2375655 by icosahedron. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Nais Metalmark Upper Miller Canyon Sierra Vista AZ 2019-07-31 10-42-19 (48441187966) by Bettina Arrigoni. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Apodemia mejicanus 27595770 by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Apodemia is a genus of metalmark butterflies that includes several species known for their distinctive wing patterns and green eyes. They inhabit areas in the western parts of North America and are associated with specific flower types for nectar feeding, while their larvae have host plant preferences among Eriogonum species.

Physical Characteristics

Living insects have green eyes, distinguishing them from Coppers (black eyes) and Checkerspots (gray to brown eyes and broader antenna clubs).

Identification Tips

Distinguished from similar species by the pattern details and the characteristic green eyes of the living insects. Metalmarks hold their antennae straighter than Coppers.

Habitat

Primarily found in western North America, and ranges from Canada to Brazil.

Distribution

New World, from Canada to Brazil.

Diet

Larvae primarily feed on Eriogonum species. Adults favor a wide variety of flowers, particularly Eriogonum and Composite flowers.

Tags

  • Lepidoptera
  • Metalmark
  • Butterflies
  • Apodemia