Species Apodemia duryi - Organ Mountain Metalmark - Hodges#4402.3

4402.3

Dury's Metalmark

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.

southern New Mexico across Trans-Pecos Texas, to Hidalgo, Mexico

Mostly on rocky slopes in desert scrub or open woodland in lower parts of mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert region.

Spring through autumn (mostly April through October) usually in two flights. Occasionally as early as February and as late as November.

Larval host - Eriogonum species. Adults often nectaring on the same plants the larvae feed on, but using others as well.

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.