Calephelis muticum

Calephelis muticum, the swamp metalmark, is a butterfly species in the family Riodinidae.

Swamp metalmark
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Riodinidae
Genus:	Calephelis
Species:	C. muticum
Binomial name
Calephelis muticum McAlpine (1937)
Synonyms
Emesis muticum Calephelis mutica

Description

Males have pointed forewings while the females tend to be slightly more rounded. Both sexes have bright red-brown wings which are lightly checkered. Wingspan is 2.4 to 3 cm.^[1]

Distribution

They have populations in the United States in southern Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, southern Wisconsin and northern Arkansas. There are also small populations in Iowa and Kentucky. They are most often seen in bogs, marshes, swamps and wet meadows. The species is endangered in Illinois.^[2]

Life cycle

The eggs are laid singly on the underside of the host plant. Fourth and fifth stage caterpillars overwinter. In the Great Lakes region there is only one brood between June and August, while in the southern regions there are two broods between May and September.

Larval foods

• Cirsium muticum
• Cirsium altissimum

Nectar flowers

• Rudbeckia hirta

Conservation

Calephelis muticum is threatened by ongoing loss and degradation of habitat, invasive species, and pesticides.^[3]