Apodemia mormo

Mormon metalmark
Apodemia mormo on a coyote bush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Riodinidae
Genus: Apodemia
Species:
A. mormo
Binomial name
Apodemia mormo
(Felder & Felder, 1859)
Synonyms[1]
  • Lemonias mormo Felder & Felder, 1859

Apodemia mormo (Mormon metalmark) is a principally Nearctic butterfly in the family Riodinidae. It is a particularly fascinating species for ecological and evolutionary research, as evidenced by its shifting taxonomic classifications. Conflicting observations of host plants utilized, distinctive morphologies, and a wide range of occupied habitats have prompted investigation into several potential subspecies.[2] To date, two genetic studies have been done on A. mormo, with analysis revealing that disjunct populations are genetically and phenotypically distinct. These studies support a potential need for refined taxonomies, although a larger body of data is required to make clear decisions.[3][4]

Populations of A. mormo are widely distributed throughout western North America, with peripheral colonies located in Canada and Mexico. The Canadian populations have historically lacked scientific study, prompting a series of investigations in the past decade. A. mormo is the only representative of the family Riodinidae, a primarily Neotropic family consisting of roughly 1500 species, that lives in Canada.[2]

Three populations of A. mormo have been given conservation statuses: the Saskatchewan population is listed as threatened, while both the British Columbia and Comstock Lange populations are classified as endangered.[2][5] Conservation efforts are complicated by a dependency on human activity for habitat success. Soil disturbances, caused by human and railway traffic, are critical for the survival of host plants and subsequent A. mormo populations; however, overbearing human presence can lead to habitat destruction. Conservation statuses have been repeatedly defended by research, and recovery strategies developed in response.[2]

  1. ^ Felder, C.; Felder, R. (1859). "Lepidopterologische Fragmente". Wiener entomologische Monatschrift. 3: 271–272.
  2. ^ a b c d COSEWIC (2003). "COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo) southern mountain and prairie populations in Canada". Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
  3. ^ Crawford, Lindsay A.; Desjardins, Sylvie; Keyghobadi, Nusha (2011). "Fine-scale genetic structure of an endangered population of the Mormon metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo) revealed using AFLPs". Conservation Genetics. 12 (4): 991–1001. Bibcode:2011ConG...12..991C. doi:10.1007/s10592-011-0202-4. S2CID 22423598.
  4. ^ Proshek, Benjamin; et al. (2013). "Apodemia mormo in Canada: population genetic data support prior conservation ranking". Journal of Insect Conservation. 17 (1): 155–170. doi:10.1007/s10841-012-9494-z. S2CID 1830170.
  5. ^ Powell, Jerry A.; Parker, Michael W. (1993). "Lange's metalmark: Apodemia mormo langei comstock". Conservation Biology of Lycaenidae (Butterflies): 116–119.