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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 584 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Renville County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Lyon County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 1970
Submitted by: one72guy
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: May 29, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: Justme
Region: Butler County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Apr 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2021
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: Pierce County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2021
Submitted by: jcShellyg
Region: Geary County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: otusasiotours
Region: Clay County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Clay County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
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