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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 265 - 288 of 1262 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: Kerry Turley
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jul 27, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jul 27, 2018
Observation date: Jul 19, 2018
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Souledout
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2011
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: May 26, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: Jim and Debby
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 25, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 25, 2008
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2011
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: San Juan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 28, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: Austin H.
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 27, 2017
Observation date: Sep 05, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
Observation date: Oct 27, 2017
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 29, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2016
Submitted by: dmzajac2004
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 25, 2017
Observation date: Oct 21, 2017
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2017
Observation date: Oct 06, 2017
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 08, 2017
Observation date: May 07, 2009
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 08, 2017
Observation date: Jun 07, 2008
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 06, 2017
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