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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 313 - 336 of 1262 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 28, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 30, 2015
Observation date: Mar 24, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 17, 2015
Observation date: Oct 01, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Adams County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2015
Observation date: Oct 01, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Adams County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2015
Observation date: Jul 12, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 20, 2015
Observation date: Jul 11, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 18, 2015
Observation date: Jul 11, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 18, 2015
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 16, 2015
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 15, 2015
Observation date: Jul 02, 2015
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 23, 2015
Observation date: Jun 21, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 10, 2015
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 10, 2015
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 10, 2015
Observation date: Apr 09, 2015
Submitted by: ajrobinson
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 15, 2015
Observation date: Sep 23, 2014
Submitted by: jim8435wisc
Region: Adams County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 29, 2014
Observation date: Sep 23, 2014
Submitted by: jim8435wisc
Region: Adams County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 29, 2014
Observation date: Nov 02, 2013
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 25, 2014
Observation date: Sep 01, 2014
Submitted by: LibbyMegna
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 15, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2014
Observation date: Sep 09, 2008
Submitted by: Carl Freeman
Region: Benzie County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 12, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 2014
Submitted by: skywatcher
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Apr 12, 2014
Submitted by: mudgrub12
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 02, 2014
Observation date: May 25, 2014
Submitted by: Samuel Grijalva
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2014
Observation date: Aug 31, 2013
Submitted by: kdg54ca7775
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Apr 04, 2014
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