Behr's Metalmark

Description:

"As defined here, Apodemia virgulti differs from A. mormo primarily by the brick-red to orange median band through the hind wing, which replaces or includes the median row of white spots. In A. mormo these median pale spots are well-defined, set in a dark brownish, gray, near black background. Also, on the upper front wing of A. virgulti, the middle two, and lower two median pale spots (with one larger in between) are commonly tiny, often ill-defined, and sometimes absent. In A. mormo these spots are usually larger and clearly defined. In general A. virgulti is a more orange insect over-all when seen from above. A. mejicanus is not reliably distinguishable from A. virgultii visually, and is separable only by it's more eastern distribution."

Habitat:

Goldenbush in chaparral. "West from the deserts, from Central CA south through Baja California Norte (Mexico)"