NORTHERN METALMARK
This Northern Metalmark is nectaring on a Black-eyed Susan flower. Black-eyed Susans and butterfly weed (orange milkweed) are favorite nectar plants. I have also seen Northern Metalmarks nectaring at daisies.
Northern Metalmarks have a very limited flight period. There is only one brood per year in our area. They fly from late June to mid-July.
Northern Metalmarks are uncommon to rare butterflies. They live in small, highly localized populations. There are good populations at Cox Arboretum and Germantown MetroPark.
Northern Metalmarks have bright orange wings underneath. Their orange wings blend in quite well with butterfly weed flowers.
The Northern Metalmark at left was found at Germantown MetroPark. Both Germantown and Cox Arboretum have small fragments of the specialized limestone barrens that this species needs.
Most other species of metalmarks are tropical butterflies. Ohio has only two species: the Northern Metalmark shown on this page, and the very rare Swamp Metalmark. The latter was once thought to be extirpated from Ohio, but it was later rediscovered.
Despite the adults being very fond of orange milkweed flowers, milkweed is not a host plant for the caterpillars. The larvae feed on ragwort.