National Moth Week is July 18-26!
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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 289 - 312 of 1262 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 09, 2008
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 06, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 25, 2017
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Cowlitz County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2017
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: nmartens
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2017
Observation date: Jun 02, 2017
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 05, 2017
Observation date: Sep 16, 2013
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 13, 2016
Observation date: Sep 29, 2016
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2016
Observation date: Sep 28, 2016
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2016
Observation date: Sep 14, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jun 19, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jul 15, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 19, 2015
Submitted by: COA1955
Region: Morgan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Mar 08, 2016
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: May 22, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 18, 2016
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