Bronze Copper
Lycaena hyllus (Cramer, 1775)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male iridescent copper-brown; female forewing yellow-orange with black spots. Underside forewing of both sexes orange with black spots; underside hindwing is gray-white with black spots and a broad orange outer margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch on low growth near host plants to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on plants. Eggs hibernate until spring; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Two in the north and west, from June-September; three in southern part of range, from May-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Herbs of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) including curly dock (Rumex crispus).
Adult Food: Adults visit flowers only occasionally, but have been seen taking nectar at blackberry and red clover.
Habitat: Low, wet areas such as bogs, marshes, wet meadows, ponds.
Range: Maine west across southern Canada and the Great Lake states to eastern Montana and central Colorado; south to Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Maryland.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Hyllolycaena hyllus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 1622 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 29, 2021
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 30, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Deuel County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2008
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Karenmal211
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: otusasiotours
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: GKillat
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 23, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Gratiot County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: crandal
Region: Summit County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jun 13, 2021
Observation date: May 15, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2018
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 26, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2017
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2017
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2020
Observation date: Sep 08, 2016
Submitted by: B Manning
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Dec 16, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2010
Submitted by: lisagorn
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Oct 23, 2020
Submitted by: Michelle Sharp
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 05, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 06, 2020
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