Little Metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis)

Uncommon and local in longleaf pine habitats in the coastal plain of NC. These small jewels are always great to see. Adults fly in the Spring and again in mid/late Summer into Fall.

	New Hanover Co., NC 26 Aug 2006


Carteret Co., NC 28 August 2005	Little Metalmarks often orient themselves "upside down" after landing on a perch Carteret Co., NC 29 August 2004


Carteret Co., NC 29 August 2004	Carteret Co., NC 29 August 2004


New Hanover Co., NC 26 Aug 2006	Collier Co., FL 17 Apr 2005

Little Metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis) nectaring on Yellow Balduina (Balduina uniflora)

Carteret Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

	Deer's-tongue, Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissimus) Craven Co., NC 27 Aug 2006 Most references state that Yellow Thistle is the caterpillar foodplant, but Bo Sullivan has found that in NC the primary foodplant is Vanillaleaf (AKA Vanilla-plant). The leaves smell pleasantly like vanilla when dry.
	Deer's-tongue, Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissimus) Craven Co., NC 27 Aug 2006 Flowers are good nectar sources for various butterfly species.
	Deer's-tongue, Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissimus) Craven Co., NC 27 Aug 2006 Sometimes placed in the genus Trilisa as Trilisa odoratissima.

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... September 3, 2004 | Updated on ... August 31, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu