Swamp Metalmark
Common NameSwamp Metalmark
Scientific NameCalephelis mutica
FamilyRiodinidae
SubfamilyRiodininae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, reddish-orange, black, white
HabitatSwamps, fens, wet meadows, bogs
Geographic RangeEastern North America (localized populations in states like Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri)
Host PlantsPackera aurea
Flight PeriodLate May to early July (sometimes a partial second brood in late August)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on Golden Ragwort and overwinter as larvae. They pupate into a chrysalis before emerging as adults.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, dark brown wings with reddish-orange patches, and the prominent submarginal row of white dots bordered by black. The antennae are distinctly ringed black and white.
Description
A small, dark brown butterfly with a checkered pattern of reddish-orange and black spots, featuring a distinctive submarginal band of white dots outlined in black on both forewings and hindwings.
