Northern Metalmark

S2

Northern Metalmark

Scientific Name

(Calephelis borealis)

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).

Photo by Judy Gallagher

Photo by © Bryan Reynolds

Identification

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).

Photo by Judy Gallagher

Life Cycle

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).

Photo by Dan Gibson, MSU Entomology.

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).

Habitat

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).

Larval Host Plant in Maryland:

Round-leaved Ragwort

Photo by Jim Brighton from Maryland Biodiversity Project

Distribution in Maryland

Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.

Distribution in US

Data from Butterflies and Moths of North America

How can you help?

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).

References

McAlpine, W. 1971. The butterfly genus Calephelis. The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 10(1): 1-125
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2020. Online Conservation Guide for Calephelis borealis. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/northern-metalmark/. Accessed 27 July 2020.
Butterflies and Moths of North America. 2020. Northern Metalmark Calephelis borealis (Grote & Robinson, 1866). https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Calephelis-borealis. Last accessed 28 July 2020.
Maryland Biodiversity Project. Northern Metalmark Calephelis borealis (Grote & Robinson, 1866) https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=541. Last accessed 28 July 2020.
Davis, L. and R. Smith. 2014. Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Checklist. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/butterfliesofmaryland_biological-summary_checklist.pdf
Conservation Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide. http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/species/fieldguide/view/Calephelis%20borealis/. Last accessed 27 July 2020.
J. A. Shuey. 2005. Assessing the conservation value of a complementary system of habitat reserves relative to butterfly species at risk and divergent populations. American Midland Naturalist 153: 110-120.

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