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Purplish Copper
Lycaena helloides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male brown with purple iridescence; female more orange. Hindwing of both sexes with broad orange band at margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol in low spots for females. Eggs are scattered at the base of the host plant or in litter beneath it. Eggs hibernate; caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: Three or four flights in lower elevation California. Two flights in many areas from May-July and from August-October. One flight at high altitude and far northern habitats from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Knotweeds (Polygonum) and docks (Rumex) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), cinquefoils in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides and open fields; wet meadows, marshes, streamsides, and valleys.
Range: Great Lakes area through the northern Midwest and northern plains to British Columbia, south to Baja California. Comments: The distinction between the Purplish Copper and the Dorcas Copper is blurred in the Rocky Mountains. These populations here are considered under the Purplish Copper.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 241 - 264 of 1262 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: May 25, 2019
Submitted by: Brush_lady
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 30, 2019
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: AngelaMay
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Apr 23, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: AngelaMay
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Apr 23, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2006
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 12, 2019
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 30, 2018
Observation date: May 22, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: May 28, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: mbalame99
Region: Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 11, 2018
Observation date: Sep 07, 2018
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Idaho County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Oct 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 19, 2018
Observation date: Sep 09, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 09, 2018
Observation date: Oct 09, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ekker
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2018
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 18, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2018
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 18, 2018
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Moffat County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 13, 2018
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 11, 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 04, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Pitkin County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2018
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