Species Detail

Purplish Copper

Lycaena helloides (Boisduval, 1852)

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Attributes of Lycaena helloides

Family: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae)

Subfamily: Coppers (Lycaeninae)

Identification: Upperside of male brown with purple iridescence; female more orange. Hindwing of both sexes with broad orange band at margin.

Life history: Males perch and sometimes patrol in low spots for females. Eggs are scattered at the base of the host plant or in litter beneath it. Eggs hibernate; caterpillars feed on leaves.

Flight: Three or four flights in lower elevation California. Two flights in many areas from May-July and from August-October. One flight at high altitude and far northern habitats from July-August.

Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Knotweeds (Polygonum) and docks (Rumex) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), cinquefoils in the rose family (Rosaceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides and open fields; wet meadows, marshes, streamsides, and valleys.

Range: Great Lakes area through the northern Midwest and northern plains to British Columbia, south to Baja California. Comments: The distinction between the Purplish Copper and the Dorcas Copper is blurred in the Rocky Mountains. These populations here are considered under the Purplish Copper.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.