Gorgon Copper
Lycaena gorgon (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male coppery brown with bright reddish purple tinge; female dark brown with cream and black spots. Upperside of female hindwing with row of orange crescents next to row of small back spots. Underside of both sexes gray with black spots; hindwing with submarginal row of red-orange spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol for females near host plants. Eggs are laid singly on host flower stalks and hatch the next spring. Caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: One flight from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) including Eriogonum species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sage scrub, chaparral, foothill woodland, rocky hills and outcrops.
Range: Southern Oregon through California to Baja California.
Conservation: Not usually required. Some colonies lost to development and others degraded from effects of exotic grasses and other weeds.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 214 verified sightings
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
Observation date: May 29, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 03, 2017
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2016
Observation date: Jun 12, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 30, 2016
Observation date: Aug 12, 2015
Submitted by: Kurt R. Schwarz
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 09, 2015
Observation date: May 11, 2015
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2015
Observation date: May 11, 2015
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2015
Observation date: May 28, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2015
Observation date: May 28, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2015
Observation date: May 28, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2015
Observation date: Jun 14, 2015
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2015
Observation date: May 08, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 15, 2015
Observation date: May 09, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2015
Observation date: May 09, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2015
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2014
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2014
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 09, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: Mic
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Bruun)
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 1942
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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