Behr's Metalmark

Apodemia virgulti

They get their 'metalmark' name from the bright, metallic silver markings on the undersides of their wings that glint in the sunlight.

Scientific name: Apodemia virgulti
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Riodinidae › Apodemia
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and dry rocky hillsides
Diet: Adults feed on flower nectar (primarily California buckwheat); caterpillars feed on the leaves of California buckwheat.
Range: Southern California, Baja California
Size: Wingspan of 20 to 25 mm (0.8 to 1.0 inches).
Lifespan: 10 to 14 days as an adult; up to 1 year for a full lifecycle.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Habitat loss from urban development, invasive plant species, and increased wildfire frequency.
Safe to approach?: This species is completely harmless. You can safely observe them from a close distance as they nectar on flowers. Avoid touching their delicate wings, and do not disturb their host plants.

Apodemia virgulti , or Behr's metalmark , is a species of metalmark in the family of butterflies known as Riodinidae. It is found in North America.

Photo: Bill Bouton, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist