Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3
Apodemia duryi
This record describes Apodemia duryi (species). Recorded family: Riodinidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to A. mejicanus and A. virgulti , but with the upper side almost entirely suffused in orange, and with the white spots below very large. White spots above are mostly missing. A member of the Apodemia mormo complex or superspecies, of which members are all considered as a single variable species by some authors, while other authors recognize varied numbers of distinct species. Certain types that look different may coexist in the same locations, yet remain distinct, which implies that in those areas there are at least two species. Relationships between various populations are still being sorted out. This is one of the more distinctive and easily recognized members of the group. However, specimens from s. New Mexico & adjacent Texas (San Andreas, Organ, & Franklin Mountains) often look similar to A. mejicana , and it seems that the two blend or hybridize in that area. It is likely that A. duryi should be considered a subspecies of A. mejicanus , but the question needs further study.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Riodinidae (Metalmarks)
- Subfamily
- Riodininae
- Tribe
- Emesidini
- Genus
- Apodemia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly on rocky slopes in desert scrub or open woodland in lower parts of mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert region.
Geographic Range
southern New Mexico across Trans-Pecos Texas, to Hidalgo, Mexico
Seasonal Activity
Spring through autumn (mostly April through October) usually in two flights. Occasionally as early as February and as late as November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host - Eriogonum species. Adults often nectaring on the same plants the larvae feed on, but using others as well.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apodemia duryi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3
What is Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3?
Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 (Apodemia duryi) is a species in the family Riodinidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3?
Similar to A. mejicanus and A. virgulti , but with the upper side almost entirely suffused in orange, and with the white spots below very large. White spots above are mostly missing.
Where is Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly on rocky slopes in desert scrub or open woodland in lower parts of mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert region. |
| Range | southern New Mexico across Trans-Pecos Texas, to Hidalgo, Mexico |
What does Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 eat?
The diet of the Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 includes Larval host - Eriogonum species. Adults often nectaring on the same plants the larvae feed on, but using others as well..
When is Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3 active?
Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3: seasonal activity - Spring through autumn (mostly April through October) usually in two flights. Occasionally as early as February and as late as November..