The Northern Metalmark is a butterfly in the Riodinidae family. They are weak flyers and spend much of their time on the underside of leaves (1).
The Northern Metalmark can be found from Connecticut to New Jersey, New York, southward through the central Appalachia, and westward to Ohio and Indiana and some isolated populations in Missouri and Oklahoma (2, 3). In Maryland, this butterfly has only been reported in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties and has a state ranking of S2 (4).
The Northern Hairstreak is one of the larger species within the genus Calephelis, and has a 1 ¼ inch wingspan (1, 2). Their upperside is a dull brown color with black markings that form four or more jagged lines. The outer basal line is darker brown with a band across the middle of both wings. The submarginal area is a light reddish-brown with two silver, metallic lines. In between the two silver lines are multiple black dots in a linear formation (1).
Caterpillars are green with black dots and long white hairs (1, 6, 7).
Females lay their eggs on the underside of the larval host plant, Round-leaved Ragwort (Packera obovata) previously known as Senecio obovatus (1, 4). Caterpillars spend their days feeding and go underground for winter (1, 6).
Adults fly from late June to mid July (5) and will nectar from several species of flowers including butterflyweed, white sweet clover, goldenrod, ox-eye daisy, sneezeweed, and yarrow (3). This species is a weak flyer and are usually seen resting upside down on the underside of leaves (6).
In Maryland, the Northern Metalmark is known to stay around shale barrens and open woods. They will most likely remain nearby their host plant, Round-leaved Ragwort (Packera obovata) and possibly their favorable nectar sources yarrow, goldenrod, and fleabane (5).
Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.
In Maryland, the Northern Metalmark is a threatened and rare species vulnerable to forest succession, habitat loss, invasive plant species, pesticide use, and overpopulation of deer (4, 6). In order to help the Northern Metalmark, it is important to conserve land with thin trees and dense canopies, to control invasive plants and deer populations (6).
© 2020 Price Lab for Entomology, Courtney Rogall