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 49 - 72 of 265 verified sightings
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
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: Nancy Lea Sandy
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 01, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2009
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl...
Region: Cache County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 26, 2011
Observation date: Jul 18, 2011
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 31, 2011
Observation date: Jun 27, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Lane)
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 12, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 30, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 26, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 17, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 25, 2011
Observation date: Jul 10, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 25, 2011
Observation date: Aug 01, 2010
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: Jan 23, 2011
Observation date: Aug 10, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Emmel, Shields & Ellis)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul M. Thompson)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 16, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Madison County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 19, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Ben Pritchett)
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jack Vaughn)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: May 07, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Laurence Crabtree)
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 25, 2010
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