Rawson's Metalmark (Calephelis rawsoni McAlpine)
Wing span: 3/4 -1 1/8 inches (2 - 2.9 cm).
Identification: Male forewing pointed. Upperside dark red-brown with indistinct markings, median band faint or lacking, fringes checkered. Underside brownish orange with distinct markings and bright metallic spots.
Life history: Males perch in gulches to find females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves, which caterpillars eat.
Flight: Possibly two flights from June-November.
Caterpillar hosts: Shrubby boneset (Eupatorium havanense) and palmleaf eupatorium (E. greggii) of the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Moist areas including stream edges, gulches, subtropical woodland, shaded limestone outcrops.
Range: Southern Arizona, South and west Texas south to central Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required, but some populations may need monitoring.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
