Unknown butterfly - Apodemia virgulti

Moved

… John S. Ascher, 10 December, 2014 - 6:03am

Difficult to tell which "species" of Apodemia from this angle

but it is a "Metalmark" butterfly in the Apodemia mormo complex (meaning one of the types that some authors lump together under a single mega-species - Apodemia mormo and that other authors at the other extreme split into several "species". Being from Ramona, I expect that she is indeed Behr's Metalmark; however, the species name is A. [mormo] virgulti.
I may be wrong, but as far as I can tell there never has been an Apodemia behri, but sometimes that name is mistakenly written - derived from the common name (which in turn comes from the fact that Doctor Hans Herman Behr authored the name virgulti).

… David J. Ferguson, 5 December, 2014 - 9:38am

LOL

So, David, just what are you saying

ಠ‿ಠ

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 9 December, 2014 - 6:48pm

I can see how that might leave one scratching their head.

Sorry,

As for "just what I'm saying" - that's a loaded question. I'll just let it hang I think - hopefully in the spirit intended.

As for the "behri" thing - - wasn't trying to pick on anyone. :0) I think I've done it too - with other names for sure.

At the risk of making things worse - here is some clarification (hopefully).

By "mormo complex", I mean everything in genus Apodemia in the United States that isn't A. hepburni, nais, palmeri, or walkeri (plus some things from Mexico). At the moment there doesn't seem to be much consensus as to how or even whether to divide the complex up; are there are one or many species involved? [My feeling is that there could be two, perhaps three species involved - - - maybe.]

The conflicting ways the group is treated currently are confusing, since different books may use different names for the same things, or may segregate the same names differently as synonyms or subspecies under different "species" names.

I'm fairly sure this particular one from Ramona is A. [mormo] virgulti (the common southern Califonria type with the upper hind wings - not visible in the photo - partly orange). I think that's the only member of this group that flies in the Romana area, but I could be wrong. As for alternatives, there are things with mostly black hind wings that sometimes show up between the coast and the desert (similar in appearance to langei, deserti, and/or "typical" mormo). They may be something different from virgulti, or maybe they are just dark indivdiuals (???). I'm not aware of a name applied specifically to these.

I do get wordy sometimes, when short and sweet probably would do just as well.

Now, Robert, I have to figure out how you made that owlish smiley face - the kids would like that I think. @~@

… David J. Ferguson, 10 December, 2014 - 12:13pm

Please add county

In San Diego County an expected species is Behr's Metalmark, Apodemia virgulti. I apologize for mistakenly having miscited it as behri.

What other member of the complex could occur at Ramona?

… John S. Ascher, 4 December, 2014 - 10:35pm