Gray Copper
Lycaena dione (Scudder, 1868)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Dark gray above with 2 black spots on forewing. Outer edge of hindwing with pale orange and black band. Below, wings pale gray with black spots. Outer hindwing band repeated.
Wing Span: 1 1/3 - 1 ½ inches (2.4 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Male perch and patrol periodically in search of receptive females.
Flight: One flight from mid-June to July, rarely August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of docks (Rumex).
Adult Food: Flower nectar of various plants including alfalfa, sweet clover, and milkweeds.
Habitat: Relatively flat open areas including prairies, waste fields, stream beds, edges of reservoirs.
Range: Southern Canadian prairie provinces south through Great Plains to southern Missouri, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.
Conservation: None reported. Host plants adapted to weedy conditions. Butterflies seem to adapt to wide range of conditions.
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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 555 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Lennox Saunders
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2008
Submitted by: Jay Cossey
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: bethtiller
Region: Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: Coronis
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 13, 2019
Submitted by: WINGSaloftinKS
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 16, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2006
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: b.cn.u
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 03, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2018
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2018
Submitted by: KS.trailwalker
Region: Franklin County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2016
Submitted by: kking216
Region: Hall County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 06, 2017
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 06, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Witthuhn
Region: Ness County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 29, 2017
Observation date: Jun 04, 2015
Submitted by: LibbyMegna
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 14, 2016
Observation date: Jun 12, 2016
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 13, 2016
Observation date: Jun 04, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 05, 2016
Observation date: Jun 08, 2015
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2007
Submitted by: Gordilly
Region: Mills County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Dennis Schlicht
Verified date: Aug 17, 2014
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: Wildcat Otto
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 05, 2013
Observation date: Jul 26, 2008
Submitted by: cheins
Region: Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 20, 2012
Observation date: Jun 18, 2011
Submitted by: MrLiZarD
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jim.mason
Verified date: Sep 14, 2011
Observation date: Jun 24, 2010
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Dakota County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 23, 2011
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