Apodemia mormo

The widespread and common butterfly "species" of western North America known as the Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) is in fact almost surely a complex of several distinct species, but the systematics of this group requires further study (Brock and Kaufman 2003).

Apodemia mormo is resident throughout the western United states, with distinct populations in North/South Dakota and in Wyoming; the species ranges to Sinaloa, Mex. (Scott 1986). Habitats are grassland, chaparral, open woodland and dunes. Host plants are herbaceous or shrubs and include many species but mostly from one family, Polygonaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant in clusters of two to four eggs per clutch. Individuals overwinter as young larvae. In most of the range, there is one flight each year with the approximate flight time mainly Aug 1-Aug30, in the south there are several flights Mar1 through early Oct. (Scott 1986).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)) Western half of United States; a few occurrences in Canada and New Mexico. Also occurs in Mexico.

Comments: From beach dunes to mountains; typically in dry areas and slopes. Larval host plants are in genus Eriogonum.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Most subspecies common.

Adults sip flower nectar, mostly from Erigonum. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.   Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen.  Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 40
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Species is quite common. Subspecies LANGEI is listed as Endangered.

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Comments: Most EOs not under threat.

Global Protection: Unknown whether any occurrences are appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Most EOs not in parks or reserves.