Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Riodinidae (Metalmarks)
Subfamily Riodininae
Tribe Riodinini
Genus Calephelis
Species virginiensis (Little Metalmark - Hodges#4386)
Hodges Number
4386
Size
wingspan 13-25 mm
Identification
The only metalmark of the southeast Atlantic coastal plain. Small. Upperside rusty orange, with fringes dark and not checkered. Underside brighter orange.
Range
Atlantic coastal plain and piedmont of United States from Maryland south to Florida and the Keys; west along the Gulf coast to southeast Texas.
Habitat
Grassy areas of the coastal plain and in open pine woods, savannah, and salt-marsh meadows.
Season
March-October, two or more (3-5) broods
Food
Adults take nectar.
Life Cycle
Hostplants are Yellow Thistle, Cirsium horridulum, and also sometimes Vanilla Plant, Carphephorus odoratissimus. Caterpillars often rest on underside of leaves. Overwinters as caterpillar (1).
Print References
Wagner, Caterpillars of Eastern North America, p. 107 (1)