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 25 - 48 of 262 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2019
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2019
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 20, 2018
Submitted by: WhiteRaven
Region: Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 19, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Sep 02, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 12, 2017
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Apr 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jul 03, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jul 19, 2014
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Johnson County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 04, 2014
Observation date: May 15, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Carson City County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 04, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 02, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2012
Submitted by: lhrobinson9672
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jul 02, 2012
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