Blue Metalmark
Common NameBlue Metalmark
Scientific NameApodemia mormo
FamilyRiodinidae
SubfamilyRiodininae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblue, black, white
HabitatArid and semi-arid regions, deserts, chaparral, rocky hillsides, open woodlands
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from southern British Columbia to Mexico
Host PlantsEriogonum spp. (buckwheat)
Flight PeriodApril to October (multiple broods, varies by region)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae feed on buckwheat, pupate near the ground, and adults emerge after a relatively short pupal stage. Overwinters as a larva or pupa.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, iridescent blue wings with prominent black markings, and white-fringed wing margins. Its low, fast, and erratic flight pattern is also characteristic.
Description
A small butterfly with iridescent blue wings heavily marked with black spots and bands, and a distinctive white fringe along the wing margins. Its body is covered in bluish hairs.
