Observation date: July 25, 2011
Submitted by: cpcdolan
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: None.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: August 18, 2011
Coordinator notes: Lycaena dorcas is not the correct species for this copper but I have to select one for the record to verify. The status of the Purplish Coppers is yet unofficial. This is the "Mountain Copper." The correct species in the picture should be Lycaena florus. The picture of the pair by the sumitter is the southern subspecies found in Colorado, ssp. sangremar. These are very typical examples of subspecies sangremar but the range of variation in females can give some nearly the appearance of female Lycaena helloides. L. helloides fly at lower elevations and use dock and knotweed for hosts. Lycaena dorcas is found only in bogs and uses cinquefoils for hosts. It's range is in the Great Lakes region and adjacent southern Canada eastward and does not include Colorado. Lycaena castro is the other applicable name along with florus but the type series of castro is questionable as it contains both examples of the intended name castro and also ones that clearly are Lycaena helloides. We are waiting for the review and determination on the situation by the ICZN (International Commission for Zoological Nomeclature) made by petition submitted in 2009 to supress the name castro due to the mixed type examples. Sometimes these reviews can take years!
