Zela Metalmark
Emesis zela Butler, 1870
Family: Riodinidae
Subfamily: Riodininae
Identification: Forewing somewhat indented below tip. Fringes of male white; those of female dark on forewing, light on hindwing. Upperside dull red-brown; hindwing with more orange. Underside pinkish brown with scattered small dark spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.9 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch in openings in valley bottoms to watch for females.
Flight: Two broods from March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Not reported.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Oak woodlands, canyons, streamsides.
Range: Southern Arizona south to Venezuela.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 69 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ares1a.jpg?itok=hwg_IcAr)
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: eric_hough
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 21, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1370899.jpg?itok=8Ovlkn0I)
Observation date: Feb 26, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/screenshot_2016-09-03-18-13-51.png?itok=3E0X1y2c)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: tkasusky
Region: Puebla, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/9i0a1043.jpg?itok=UDGvBcqR)
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img642_fixed.jpg?itok=2NbcTfXh)
Observation date: Mar 31, 1993
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img638.jpg?itok=T7eNtcZY)
Observation date: Aug 01, 1992
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img640.jpg?itok=YNsW_uBL)
Observation date: May 03, 1992
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19850316ezelaguadcynhidalgonm.jpg?itok=_TvuvRug)
Observation date: Mar 16, 1985
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/zela_metalmark_az_9-9-12_647.jpg?itok=48o_ts50)
Observation date: Sep 09, 2012
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 27, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/sedona_060917-1633-edit-2.jpg?itok=PluPk-eV)
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ezelablackrange20070605dsc03909.jpg?itok=jftsl6hT)
Observation date: Jun 05, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 19, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/img_8656_0.jpg?itok=2jHwXeGh)
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 16, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/p1560140.jpg?itok=uvrs1LgX)
Observation date: Aug 24, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/zela-metalmark-2_0.jpg?itok=y9M0pdiJ)
Observation date: Apr 10, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/p1560399.jpg?itok=umHxKGPb)
Observation date: Aug 24, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 08, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/p1560637.jpg?itok=zjM7GrZH)
Observation date: Aug 25, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 08, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/zela_metalmark_170312_7.jpg?itok=OMW-VU45)
Observation date: Mar 12, 2017
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 17, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/zela_metalmark.jpg?itok=lPYbzpsY)
Observation date: Aug 16, 2016
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 19, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8547_3.jpg?itok=W1kAGrJy)
Observation date: Jul 26, 2016
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 07, 2016
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Observation date: Apr 19, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Feb 14, 2006
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jul 14, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George Balogh)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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Observation date: Aug 07, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Floyd Preston)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 13, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ron Leuschener)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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