Mormon metalmark

Description:

The Mormon Metalmark is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 25 to 35 mm. The female is larger than the male, and has three pairs of functioning legs, while the male’s forelegs are not used for walking. The wings have white checks and spots against a dark brown surface; the forewings are red-brown and have little curvature. The butterfly’s body is dark grey with subtle white highlights on the abdomen. The eyes are green and antennae have conspicuous black-and-white bands.

Habitat:

Spotted nectaring on wildflowers near the Umtanum creek.

Notes:

The Mormon Metalmark is a butterfly of arid regions, typically associated with hillsides, dunes, and embankments on barren, sandy, or gravelly soils. These conditions are ideal for the growth of its buckwheat host plant, which provides both food for the butterfly larvae and nectar for the adults. Their are recovery plans in some provinces in Canada as numbers have dwindled.