Lustrous Copper
Lycaena cupreus (W.H. Edwards, 1870)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside is shiny coppery red with small black spots and black border. Spots are larger in female. Underside is gray with many small black spots; forewing with overall copper tinge and black submarginal line; hindwing submarginal line is red.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.9 - 3.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol for females in hollows of open areas. Females lay eggs singly on or near host plant leaves; which the caterpillars then eat. Half-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants of the Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) including alpine sorrel (Rumex pauciflorus), and other Rumex and Oxyria species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain meadows, sagebrush flats, glacial cirques, rocky treeless areas.
Range: At high elevations in the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia south to New Mexico. Moderate to high elevations on Pacific Slope; Oregon to Sierra Nevada of California; western Nevada.
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.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Lycaena cuprea
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 263 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 21, 2024
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: dfagan746
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: Elija-dk_32
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: katiefouse
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: falco1
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2022
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 29, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Madison County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: robertpb
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2012
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2009
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
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