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 121 - 144 of 266 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 19, 1993
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Aug 13, 1970
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 10, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 16, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Jim Brock)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 11, 1986
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Aug 23, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mark Walker)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 13, 1976
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 05, 2006
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Phil Nordin)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 09, 1988
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1896
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. E. Cottle)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 19, 1976
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 25, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Jim Brock)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 22, 1991
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Aug 31, 1961
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Aug 14, 1970
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 10, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 06, 1986
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 13, 1990
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 07, 1987
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 25, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jun 25, 1976
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Aug 20, 1917
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: Jul 07, 2009
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 07, 2009
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