The Mormon Metalmark is the most widespread
and commonly collected metal-mark in North America.
There are nine butterflies that are restricted to the South Okanagan
and Similkameen of which the Mormon Metalmark is one. The small
to medium sized butterflies of the genus Apodemia are checkered
brown and orange with white on the upperside. Populations of the
Great Basin Metalmark (nominate mormo) have the hind wing
ground colour entirely black with relatively large white spots and
extensive whitish on the underside.
The common name, Metalmark, relates to the presence of metallic
coloured markings on the wings in many species in the family. However,
the Morman Metalmark lacks these metallic markings.
The females of the Metalmarks family are almost invariably larger
than the males and have broader wings, with males exhibiting a straighter
costal and terminal
margin on the fore wing. Additionally, the long antennae (more than
half the fore wing length), which bears a slender, flattened club,
help to distinguish the Metalmarks.
Distribution
Map
Red dots indicate specimen records or confirmed breeding sites.
British Columbia
The Mormon Metalmark now occurs only in a handful of small colonies
in the Okanagan Valley and around Keremeos in the Similkameen Valley
North America
The Mormon Metalmark lives throughout the Great Basin of the United
States from southwestern Colorado and southern Wyoming to the eastern
edge of California. It ranges north to the Okanagan Valley of British
Columbia and into southern Saskatchewan.
Habitat
Throughout its range, populations of the Mormon Metalmark commonly
occur in arid places, such as dry, rocky slopes in the desert or
xeric chaparral-covered
hills, but the species is extremely tolerant. It mostly inhabits
grassland, open woodland, chaparral and dunes.
In British Columbia, colonies concentrate
around plants of Eriogonum niveum, a member of the buckwheat
family. In the United States, colonies sometimes are quite local
when the foodplant is restricted, but populations often are extensive,
ranging over large areas as, for example, where the foodplant is
a dominant feature of chaparral.
Why is it endangered?
Rare invertebrates of the south Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
such as this species are threatened not by direct exploitation,
but by loss or degradation of their habitats. They are at risk because
their ecosystems are at risk.
The grasslands of the southern interior of the province are a valuable
agricultural resource, and their rich soils have been ploughed and
irrigated to produce tree fruits, grapes, and vegetables. Pesticide
use has probably had a great impact on native insects living in
around agricultural areas. As well, heavy grazing has altered the
plant composition of grasslands, changing the invertebrate communities.
The massive diversity of invertebrate species in British Columbia
makes it very difficult for entomologists to do a literature or
collection survey to determine which species are endangered or threatened.
Specialized, detailed surveys will be required for almost every
species that is suspected of being endangered. Despite a general
ignorance about invertebrate distribution, information is known
about a number of species that are confined to threatened habitats
of very limited extent in the Thompson-Okanagan valleys.
Biology
The egg of the Mormon Metalmark is somewhat flattened, wider than
tall and pale pink, later turning deep violet. They are laid in
small clusters of two to four on drying lower leaves, sometimes
singly at stem junctions or under petiole sheaths or on leaves or
inflorescences.
The full grown larva is purplish and somewhat stout. Overwintering
probably takes place either as young or mature larvae on the ground.
Pupation occurs in debris at the base of the plant or within the
hollow stems of some host species.
Both sexes often visit flowers other than the foodplant. Their
activity takes place in open, often hot sunshine and they do not
commonly seek shaded spots to alight as do many other riodinids.
The larvae feed on Eriogonum leaves. The adults sip nectar
from these plants as well as others, such as rabbit-brush. The young
larvae eat the upperside of leaves; older larvae eat leaves and
stems, rarely flowers, at night and live in a nest of leaves silked
together. The larva are dark violet (lighter beneath), with six
rows of clustered cactuslike spines, the dorsal rows black at their
bases, the lateral rows ochre.
The short and stout pupa is hairy, mottled brown, with dark spots
on the abdomen.
The quick, shadow-like flight, especially of the males, is characteristic
of Mormon Metalmarks. So, too, is their perching behaviour, in which
they frequently rest, bask and feed in a vertical position with
the head upward or downward and the wings cocked in a partially
open angle or opened nearly flat.
Some species of Metalmarks rest upside down under leaves with
the wings spread. Males commonly perch to await females, from about
11 am to 2:30 pm, though some species may patrol also. In courtship,
the male pursues a passing female, both land, she may flutter briefly,
and then he flutters next to her and nudges her before they join.
The adults have one flight, mainly in August. They are also fairly
local, moving an average of 49 m for males and 64 m for females
(maximum 617 m) during their life spans, which average about 9 days
for males, 11 days for females.
Sources for more
information
Related On-line Sites to Visit
Publications
Rare Invertebrates of the South Okanagan, brochure, MOE, March
1995
Biodiversity of BC, Cannings, Ch4, 1994, p. 50.
Guppy, C.S. and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British
Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum and University of BC Press.
Howe, W.H. The Butterflies of North America. Doubleday and Co.,
New York: 1975
Scott, J.A. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford U.P. 1986.
Museum Specimens
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